Method and apparatus for analyzing events in a telecommunications system

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for automated sectionalization of a DS1/DS3 data path based upon information received at a single location along the path. A test and monitor device is located at a point of demarcation between an LEC and an IEC. A Remote Module is located at a point of demarcation between the LEC and CPE. The test and monitor device is fully ANSI compatible. The information that is received is processed in a three step process in order to generate a “Sectionalizer Report”. In preparing the Sectionalizer Report, the information output from a filter is used to determine where particular Events originated.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuing (divisional) application of U.S.application Ser. No. 08/713,027 filed Sep. 12, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No.6,421,323 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.08/372,819, filed on Dec. 23, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,566,161), andassigned to the assignee of the present application, which areincorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to telecommunications systems, and moreparticularly to a method and apparatus for detecting and determining thepoint of origin of events in a telecommunications system.

2. Description of Related Art

Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN) commonly utilize Time DivisionMultiplexing (TDM) transmission systems to communicate both voice anddata signals over a digital communications link. For example, DS1(digital signal level 1) data paths are currently used to carry bothvoice and data signals over a single transmission facility. DS1 pathscarry DS1 signals which are transmitted at a nominal rate of 1.544 Mb/s.DS1 paths reduce the number of lines required to carry voice and datasignals. Data paths, such as DS1 paths, have a portion of the datatransmission capability assigned to communicating customer informationfrom one end of the data path to the other. This portion of thetransmission capability is commonly referred to as the “payload”. Inaddition, another portion of the transmission capability is assigned tooverhead functions, such as error detection and maintaining the datapath. This portion of the transmission capability is commonly referredto as “overhead”. DS1 facilities are used in large part to carry signalsswitched by components of the PSTN. However, point-to-point DS1 datalinks are also used to interconnect equipment controlled by differentdata users. A typical DS1 signal path is shown in FIG. 1. DS1transmission systems, like the one shown in FIG. 1, include threegeneral equipment types: (1) terminating equipment, (2) user interfaceequipment, and (3) transmission equipment. Terminating equipment 10primarily serves to build the DS1 1.544 Mb/s TDM signal from the varioussub-rate voice and data signals. Terminating equipment 10 typicallyperforms Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) and TDM functions. The terminatingequipment 10 also de-multiplexes the 1.544 Mb/s DS1 signal to separatevoice and data signals at their original sub-rates.

The user interface equipment typically comprises a Channel Service Unit(CSU) 20 which connects the terminating equipment 10 with thetransmission equipment 30, such as a DS1 path and ensures that both endsof the DS1 paths 30 send and receive a high quality DS1 signal. The CSU20 typically checks for conformance to certain standards which are setby the telecommunications industry. The CSU 20 corrects and detectserrors in the DS1 transmission path. For example, the CSU 20 correctsBipolar Violations (BPV). In addition, the CSU 20 detects various errorsand inserts alarm indications and zero substitution codes in the DS1transmission path, including Remote Alarm Indication (RAI), AlarmIndication Signal (AIS), and Bipolar with Eight-Zero Substitution (B8ZS)signals.

The DS1 path 30 includes hardware used by the network providers totransmit DS1 digital signals between equipment controlled by differentdata users. The DS1 path 30 as shown in FIG. 1 is implemented by a T1line. However, other facilities, such as coaxial cables, fiber opticcables, and microwave links may be used by providing an appropriatetransport interface between the Channel Service Unit (CSU) 20 and thefacility.

DS1 signals may be transmitted over a dedicated point-to-point networkas simple as the one shown in FIG. 1 utilizing twisted wire pairs andrepeaters spaced at intermediate points. Alternatively, the network maybe as complex as the one shown in FIG. 2 which utilizes a combination oftwisted wire pairs and repeaters, multiplexers, Digital Cross-connectSystems (DCS), Add Drop Multiplexers (ADM), Fiber Optic Terminals (FOT),Coaxial Cable, Microwave, Satellite, or any other transmission mediacapable of transporting a DS1 signal. In some instances, DS1 signals maybe carried over a network similar to the point-to-point network, buthaving the added capability to switch the DS1 signal (in a DCS or ADM)in a manner similar to the PSTN.

While DS1 transmission systems such as the system shown in FIG. 1 arewell-known, customers more typically communicate using a public DS1network, as shown in FIG. 2. In the DS1 transmission system shown inFIG. 2, equipment is divided into categories based on the location ofthe equipment. Essentially, the equipment is broken into threecategories: (1) the Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) 40; (2) the LocalExchange Carrier (LEC) equipment, which comprises the local loop 42 andthe central office equipment; and (3) the InterExchange Carrier (IEC)52. CPE 40 belongs to the network user (or customer). The customer thatowns the CPE 40 is responsible for both its operation and maintenance.The customer must ensure that its equipment provides a healthy andstandard DS1 digital signal to the local exchange carrier equipment 42.The equipment 40 on the customer premises typically consists of DS1multiplexers 46, digital Private Branch Exchanges (PBXs), and any otherDS1 terminating equipment which connects to a CSU 20 at the CPE site.The local exchange carrier equipment 42 connects the CPE 40 with thecentral office 44 and the IEC 52. LECs assume responsibility formaintaining equipment at the line of demarcation between the CPE 40 andthe local loop 42.

As shown in FIG. 2, a Network Interface Unit (NIU) 50 may be coupledbetween the CPE 40 and the LEC equipment 42. The NIU 50 represents thepoint of demarcation between the CPE 40 and the LEC equipment 42 (whichcomprises local loop equipment 42, and Central Office (CO) equipment44). Prior art NIUs may be relatively simple devices which allow networktechnicians to minimally test the operation and performance of both theCPE 40 and the DS1 network 52 or they may be more sophisticated devices.

The CO equipment 44 may include equipment that can monitor for variousDS1 signal requirements. Independent of whether the DS1 transmissionsystem is simple (FIG. 1), complex (FIG. 2), or switched, all thecircuits and network equipment required to transmit a DS1 signal must betested and maintained to operate at maximum efficiency. In order toperform such test and maintenance functions, equipment within the DS1path provides maintenance signals indicative of particular conditions onthe incoming and outgoing signals. These signals are defined bystandards established by the American National Standards Institute foroperation of DS1 communications links (ANSI T1.403 and ANSI T1.408, et.al). These indications include (1) RAI, which indicates that the signalthat was received by the CPE equipment from the NIU 50 was lost (thedetailed requirements for sending RAI are contained in ANSI T1.231); and(2) AIS, which is an unframed, all-ones signal which is transmitted tothe network interface upon loss, or in response to the presence of asignal defect of the originating signal, or when any action is takenthat would cause a service disruption (such as loopback). In addition,detection of signal defects in the digital hierarchy above DS1 shallcause an AIS signal to be generated. The AIS signal is removed when thecondition that triggered the AIS is terminated.

In addition to these indications, ANSIT1.403-1995 defines a performancereport message (PRM) which is sent each second using a format which isdetailed in the standard. PRMs contain performance information within a“message field” portion of the PRM for each of four previous one-secondintervals. Counts of cyclic redundancy checking (CRC) errors areaccumulated in each contiguous one-second interval by the reportingequipment. For example, a one bit (designated “G1” by the ANSI standard)within the variable portion of the PRM indicates that one CRC error hadoccurred within the last second of transmission. At the end of eachone-second interval, a modulo-4 counter within the variable portion ofthe PRM is incremented, and the appropriate performance bits are setwithin the remainder of the variable portion of the report in accordancewith the PRM format provided in the specification. Other bits indicatethat: (1) between 2 and 5 CRC events had occurred; (2) between 6 and 10CRC events had occurred; (3) between 11 and 100 CRC events had occurred;(4) between 101 and 319 CRC events had occurred; (5) greater than 319CRC events had occurred; (6) at least one severely errored framing eventhad occurred; (7) at least one frame synchronization bit error event hadoccurred; (8) at least one line code violation event had occurred; and(9) at least one slip event had occurred. The number and type of Eventsindicates the quality of transmission. Each Event is defined within ANSIT1.403.

Performance reports may be also be generated and transmitted inaccordance with AT&T PUB 54016 Performance Reporting. PRMs are onlytransmitted by equipment that conforms to the Extended Superframe Format(ESF) described in ANSI T1.403. PRMs provide information that can beused in “Sectionalization” of the DS1 path. Sectionalization is aprocess by which several sections of a data path are analyzed todetermine in which section a communication problem originates. Inparticular, for the purposes of this discussion, sectionalization refersto determining whether a problem in the DS1 path originates within theCPE equipment 40 (for which the customer is responsible), the LECequipment 42, 44 (for which the local exchange carrier is responsible)or the T1 network equipment 52 (for which the Intermediate ExchangeCarrier (IEC) is responsible).

Currently, when a problem is reported on a DS1 path, sectionalization ofthe path is performed by sending a technician to several points alongthe path to collect data. The collected data is then reviewed by thetechnician in an attempt to determine the point of origin of a problem.Since the equipment that makes up the path is physically distributedover a large geographic region (equipment at one end of the path may bethousands of miles from equipment at the other end of the path) it istypical for several technicians to become involved in thesectionalization of the path. Each technician must be highly skilled andtrained in order to collect the data from the various points along thepath. In some cases, the revenue bearing signals being transmitted overthe path must be disrupted in order to perform tests which generate datato be collected or in order to collect data that is developed in realtime during the transmission of the revenue generating signals. In manycases the responsibility for sectionalizing the DS1 path must be sharedby the LEC, IEC, and customer, since each party is responsible formaintaining a portion of the equipment that makes up the path.Accordingly, each party incurs an expense when equipment maintained byany of the other parties experiences a problem.

Furthermore, out-of-service testing causes “live” traffic to be removedfrom the DS1 link before testing commences. In out-of-service testing, atest instrument transmits a specific data pattern to a receiving testinstrument that anticipates the sequence of the pattern being sent. Anydeviation from the anticipated pattern is counted as an error by thereceiving test instrument. Out-of-service testing can be conducted on a“point-to-point” basis or by creating a “loop-back”. Point-to-pointtesting requires two test instruments (a first instrument at one end ofthe DS1 transmission system, and a second instrument at the other end ofthe DS1 transmission system). By simultaneously generating a test datapattern and analyzing the received data for errors, the test instrumentscan analyze the performance of a DS1 link in both directions.

Loop-back testing is often used as a “quick check” of circuitperformance or when attempting to isolate faulty equipment. In loop-backtesting, a single test instrument sends a “loop-up” code to a loop backdevice, such as the CSU at the far end, before data is actuallytransmitted. The loop-up code causes all transmitted data to be loopedback by the CSU in the direction toward the test instrument. Byanalyzing the received data for errors, the test instrument measures theperformance of the link up to and including the far end CSU. Becauseloop-back testing only requires a single test instrument, and thus, onlyone operator, it is a convenient testing means.

Both point-to-point and loop-back tests allow detailed measurements ofany DS1 transmission system. However, because both testing methodsrequire that live, revenue-generating traffic be interrupted, they areundesirable. Thus, out-of-service testing is inherently expensive andundesirable. It is therefore desirable to perform in-service monitoringof “live” data to measure the performance and viability of DS1transmission systems. Because in-service monitoring does not disrupt thetransmission of live, revenue-generating traffic, it is suitable forroutine maintenance and it is preferred by both the LECs and theircustomers.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the prior art NIUs 50 disadvantageouslyprovide only intrusive test and performance monitoring functionality.End-user customers object to the service interruptions and disruptionsrequired by the out-of-service testing performed by the prior art NIUs50. The LECs install the NIUs 50 at the demarcation point between theCPE 40 and the LEC portions of the network (i.e., at the interface tothe local loop 42). The prior art NIUs 50 typically have provided theLECs with a loop-back point for testing DS1 digital circuits to thenetwork boundary. Disadvantageously, customer circuits may be takenout-of-service for intrusive testing only with customer permission.Customers typically do not authorize such intrusive testing means unlessa circuit is completely unusable.

There are several types of NIUs 50 currently in use. One of the mostpopular types of NIUs 50 is the “Smart Jack” available from Westell,Inc., located in Oakbrook, Ill. The Smart Jack NIU with PerformanceMonitoring (PM) allows the LECs to determine what errors are receivedand generated by the CPE 40. A major disadvantage of the Smart Jack NIUis that the NIU accumulates PM data and stores the data in a localbuffer for later retrieval by LEC personnel. Data retrieval in mostareas requires that a circuit be taken completely out-of-service andthat the NIU be commanded intrusively using a proprietary command set.Furthermore, the Smart Jack NIU disadvantageously provides no practicalmethod for the LECs to retrieve the performance monitor data collectedby the Smart Jack NIU. While the Smart Jack NIU does allow non-intrusivetransmission of PM data from the Smart Jack to the central office, aparalleling maintenance line must be provided. Most DS1 installations tocustomer premises, however, do not provide such maintenance lines.

Other NIUs 50 are available from Wescom Integrated Network Systems(WINS), the Larus Corporation, and Teltrend, Inc. All of the prior artNIUs 50 suffer the disadvantages associated with out-of-servicemonitoring and testing. Therefore, there is a need for an improved NIU50 which provides non-intrusive maintenance performance monitoring atthe point of demarcation between the CPE 40 and the LEC equipment.

In addition to being unable to provide non-intrusive monitoring of DS1digital equipment, the prior art NIUs 50 are unable to provide anindication of a loss of signal (LOS) caused by the CPE 40 which isdistinguishable from LOSs that are caused by failure of the networkequipment. Currently, LOS caused by the CPE 40 generates alarms in theLEC central office equipment 44 which are indistinguishable from thealarms generated in response to LOSs caused by equipment failures in thelocal loop 42, Central Office 44, or DS1 network 52. Therefore, there isa need for an improved NIU which allows the LECs to distinguish LOSalarm signals caused by loss of signal within the CPE 40 from alarmswhich originate due to loss of signal within the LEC or network. Withsuch an improved NIU, the LECs can then decide whether to notify theircustomers of the LOS indication or to ignore the indication as they deemappropriate.

In addition to these disadvantages, the prior art NIUs 50 do not permitthe LECs to control the frame format of data transmitted by theircustomers and transmitted over the LECs' networks. In general, DS1signals can be transmitted to the local loop 42 using four basic DS1frame formats: (1) Super Frame format (SF); (2) Extended SuperframeFormat (ESF) without Performance Report Messages (PRMs); (3) ESF withAT&T PUB 54016 Performance Reporting; and (4) ESF with ANSI T1.403Performance Report Messages (PRMs). Most DS1 signals are transmittedusing the SF format, and the remainder are transmitted by the CPE 40using a mix of ESF format types. Performance monitoring capabilities ofthe various formats range from poor in the case of SF (most of the datais not monitored), to excellent, in the case of ESF with ANSI T1.403PRMs. The difficulty faced by the LECs is that their ability to monitordata and transmission performance is tied to the frame format used bythe CPE 40. Because the customer is responsible for the CPE 40, the LECsare unable to control the frame format used and thus the level andextent of performance monitoring and testing that is achievable. Thepresent invention allows the LECs to control the frame format of data byconverting the frame format transmitted by the CPE 40.

The ESF format has long been recognized as the single most importantchange occurring in the telephone network with respect to the quality ofservice provided on DS1 circuits because it addresses the above-statedneed for non-intrusive monitor and test capability. ESF allows customersto continuously and non-intrusively monitor the performance of their DS1facilities while the applications remain active and thusincome-generating. ESF performance monitoring provides both a preciseperformance report and a proactive maintenance tool. With ESFperformance data, a customer can determine correlations between dataapplication performance (response time) and errors which occur on theDS1 facilities. This can aid in troubleshooting end-user response timeproblems. By looking at the error conditions, the cause of the increasedresponse time can be determined and the appropriate action can be taken.

In addition, the ESF frame format offers the network providers theability to “sectionalize” problems occurring in the network. By placingESF monitoring equipment throughout the network, an LEC can monitor thevarious facilities that make up an end-to-end customer circuit. Whencustomers complain about a degraded or unavailable circuit, the LEC canuse the ESF format to locate the faulty link in a real time,non-intrusive manner.

Although the ESF frame format has long been recognized as a tremendousbenefit, it has gained little acceptance and use in the CPE 40.Therefore, there is a need for an improved NIU which allows telephonecompanies to add the ESF functionality to existing DS1 circuits. Thereis also a need for an improved NIU which will provide telephonecompanies an adaptive way to increase the number of circuits that usethe preferred ESF signal format as the circuit enters the LEC equipment.Moreover, there is a need to combine the functions of network interface,circuit loop-back, frame format conversion, CPE loss of signaldetection, and signal degradation detection functionality together in aninexpensive and easily accessible NIU. The present invention providessuch an improved NIU.

In addition to the problems which arise due to the inability of CSUs touse ESF frame formatting, it is currently difficult to collect at theOperations System (OS) a sufficient amount of data unobtrusively inreal-time to allow automated sectionalization of a data path. Currentsystems provide for monitoring each data path at the CPE and storinginformation in the monitoring device until a request is made tocommunicate the information stored to the OS. However, due to the largeamount of information which must be stored, the data is stored in amanner which does not allow the time at which an event occurs to beknown with better than a 15 minute resolution. Accordingly, if more thantwo Events occur in the same 15 minute interval, the ability todistinguish one event from the other is lost. Furthermore, unless thereis a reason to suspect a problem on a particular data path, the data isnot requested. Still further, in prior art data paths in which data iscollected and transmitted at regular intervals (such as by PRMsgenerated by a CSU) this data is not collected at the network interface,and therefore the ability to sectionalize the data path does notcorrelate with the portions of the data path which differentorganizations are responsible for maintaining.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a system whichsectionalizes a DS1 path to allow each of the parties responsible formaintaining equipment along the path to determine which party isresponsible for the problem. Furthermore, it would be desirable toreduce the cost of sectionalizing a DS1 path by determining the locationof the origin of the problem without sending a highly skilled technicianto a plurality of locations along the path. Still further, it would bedesirable to provide such a system which is capable of sectionalizing aDS1 path in “real-time” without disrupting revenue bearing signalstransmitted over the path. The present invention provides such a system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an improved network interface unit having anadaptive DS1 frame format conversion device (hereinafter referred to asthe “Remote Module”) which is used for remotely monitoring theperformance of DS1 telephone circuits. The Remote Module is an improvednetwork interface unit which is preferably installed on the network sideof an interface between customer premises equipment (CPE) and equipmentprovided by the network provider. The Remote Module is used tonon-intrusively collect and transmit full-time performance monitoringdata to the network provider. The Remote Module provides continuous andnon-intrusive performance monitoring of DS1 transmission systems. Withthe Remote Module installed at the interface between the customer's CPEand the LECs' equipment, network service providers are alerted topotential problems before they adversely affect the service provided totheir customers. The Remote Module enables a network service provider toquickly and non-intrusively determine whether a problem exists in theequipment provided by the network provider or in the equipment on thecustomer's premises. The Remote Module, therefore, advantageouslyeliminates false dispatches and expensive and unnecessarytroubleshooting required in systems which use prior art networkinterface units.

The Remote Module provides non-intrusive testing and monitoring of CPEby facilitating the conversion of CPE-generated signal frame formats tothe Extended Superframe Format (ESF) (according to the ANSI T1.403Standard with Performance Report Message). The present inventionperforms an adaptive real-time DS1 circuit frame format conversion. Thepresent invention preferably accommodates all DS1 frame formats commonlyused in customer premises applications. For example, if the CPE uses anESF-formatted signal having a maintenance channel using an ANSI T1.403standard ESF PRM signal, the present invention concatenates additionalperformance monitoring data, gathered by the Remote Module, onto theCPE-generated signal. In this case, the additional performancemonitoring data is “piggy-backed” onto the customer-generatedperformance report messages. Alternatively, if the customer's DS1circuit is ESF-formatted, but the ESF Data Link (DL), defined by ANSIT1.403-1995 clause 9.4, is not in use, the DL is used to transport theadditional performance monitoring data, and no frame format conversionis performed by the Remote Module. If the customer's DS1 circuit isESF-formatted and is carrying AT&T PUB 54016 poll and response data, thepresent Remote Module inserts the ANSI PRMs into the maintenancechannel, carefully observing a protocol that will avoid interferencewith the AT&T maintenance channel commands and responses. The presentinvention preferably passes unframed signals without modification.

The Remote Module of the present invention is an electronic circuitwhich combines the network interface, with the NI circuit loop-back,frame format conversion, CPE loss-of-signal detection, and signaldegradation monitoring functions together into an inexpensive andcompact device. The present invention operates transparently to the CPE.The signals generated by the CPE are returned to their original formatbefore being transmitted to the customer. The CPE, therefore, has noaccess to the ESF-formatted signals if the ESF signals are not providedby the CPE. Importantly, the Remote Module provides a network loopbackfunction as defined in ANSI T1.403 which carefully avoids superseding ortampering with the CPE loopback functionality. This is important toavoid disrupting the ability of end users to locate trouble in their ownDS1 networks.

In addition to accommodating all commonly used DS1 frame formats, thepresent invention preferably provides an indication of Loss of Signalcaused by the CPE which is distinguishable from the LOS signals causedby a failure of equipment provided by the network provider. Upondetection of a Loss of Signal from the network equipment, the RemoteModule, similar to the prior art NIUs, sends an Alarm Indication Signal(AIS) to the CPE. However, upon detection of an LOS from the CPE, thepresent invention preferably transmits a unique code to the networkequipment which indicates that the LOS originated from the customer sideof the network interface (AIS-CI). The unique code is read as an AIS byelements located in the DS1 transmission system which are not speciallyequipped to read AIS-CI. AIS and AIS-CI are special signals whichsuppress downstream LOS indications while, at the same time, alertingsurveillance points to the existence of an upstream LOS or otherqualifying condition and ensuring proper ones density in the network.

Furthermore, the present invention preferably provides an indication ofLOS on the signal received by the CPE which is capable of indicatingwhether the LOS occurred prior to the signal being received by theRemote Module or between the time the signal is transmitted from theRemote Module and received by the CSU. That is, the present invention iscapable of modifying a Remote Alarm Indication (RAI) received from theCSU if the Remote Module received a signal from the network which wasnot in alarm condition. This modified signal is referred to as an RAI-CIsignal.

The present invention includes an auto-provisioning function whichfacilitates the deployment of multiple Remote Modules. A Remote Modulein accordance with the present invention auto-provisions to a frameformat conversion mode of operation when it detects the presence of asecond Remote Module positioned at a distant end of the DS1 transmissionsystem. The auto-provisioning function allows Remote Modules which areinstalled subsequent to the installation of other Remote Modules in aDS1 transmission system to begin proper operation without requiringadditional expensive site visits by network provider employees. Frameformat conversion and other features provided by the present inventionare remotely provisionable via an ESF DL. In addition, performancemonitoring data is transmitted periodically (i.e., in the preferredembodiment once per second) over the DL, and such data can benon-intrusively accessed at a distant point within the DS1 path.

The present invention also provides a method and apparatus for automatedsectionalization of “Events” in a DS1/DS3 data path based uponinformation received by a single device along the data path. Events arepreferably defined as performance primitives and parameters defined inANSI T1.231 at paragraph 6, et seq. However, in accordance with analternative embodiment of the present invention, Events may be definedas a subset or super set of these primitives and parameters. Theinformation is processed in order to determine the point of origin ofproblems detected on the path.

More particularly, a test and monitor device is located at a point ofdemarcation between a Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) and an IntermediateExchange Carrier (IEC). In addition, in the preferred DS1/DS3 data pathconfiguration, a Remote Module is located at a point of demarcationbetween the LEC and the Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). The test andmonitor device receives the following information indicating theoccurrence of an Event:

-   -   (1) Alarm Indication Signals (AISs);    -   (2) Alarm Indication Signal-Customer Installation (AIS-CI);    -   (3) Remote Alarm Indications (RAIs);    -   (4) Remote Alarm Indications-Customer Installation (RAI-CI);    -   (5) Performance Report Messages (PRMs) (if the received signal        is in Extended Superframe Format (ESF) with PRMs); and    -   (6) Supplementary Performance Report Messages (SPRMs), (if a        Remote Module is present in the path between the CPE and the        test and monitoring equipment).

In addition, the test and monitor device of the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is fully ANSI compatible (i.e., is capable ofmonitoring each of the performance primatives and parameters defined byANSI T1.231 paragraph 6, et seq.). The present invention processes thisinformation in order to determine the point of origin of any Event, suchas an “Errored Second” or an alarm which is detected at the test andmonitor device. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention,any subset or super set of these parameters and primatives may bemonitored by the test and monitor device.

The information that is received is processed in a three step process inorder to generate a “Sectionalizer Report”. The Sectionalizer Report canbe output as a graphical display on a video output device (such as avideo monitor), or the data can be transmitted to a remote device, suchas an Operations System (OS) over an asynchronous or X.25 communicationchannel. The Sectionalizer Report can be structured in accordance withone of three modes (“Filtered Mode”, “History Mode”, and “Current Mode”)and two views (“Data View” and “Sectionalized View”).

In the first step in preparing the Sectionalizer Report, a first filtercaptures changes in the status of each leg in the path (as determined bythe occurrence of an Event). Indications that an Event has occurred arederived from the information received by the test and monitor device(“Raw Data”), and are output from the first filter only after a firstpredetermined period of time has elapsed or upon detection of a moresevere Event. Each detected Event is held within the first filter for asecond predetermined period which is longer than the first predeterminedperiod. Accordingly, any Event that occurs will be output from the firstfilter before the indication of that Event is cleared. If more than oneEvent is detected on a particular leg in the path, then the most severeEvent is output from the first filter after the first period of time haselapsed, the first period of time beginning at the time the most severeEvent was detected. If the Event is no longer being detected after thesecond period of time has elapsed, then the Event is cleared and willnot be reported in subsequent reports.

In a second step in preparing the Sectionalizer Report, a second filter“smooths” changes in the status of each leg in the path. That is, thesecond filter imposes a delay before indications of Events in each legof the path, unless the severity of the Event is decreased. By imposingsuch a delay, the output is stabilized and Events that are reported atdifferent times from different devices due to lack of synchronizationbetween the time reports are generated by different devices in the datapath and reported in a manner which ensures that such Events are notprocessed as two separate Events.

In a third step in preparing the Sectionalizer Report, the informationoutput from the second filter is used to determine where particularEvents originated. Signals transmitted in each direction (i.e., to thenetwork and from the network) are handled independently. However, if thesignal reporting an Event on the signal from the network (i.e., an RAIsignal) disrupts the signal being transmitted to the network (such asoccurs in some instances in signals formatted in accordance with SFformat), then the ability to detect Events on the signal to the networkis limited. By implementing a sectionalizing method in which conditionsare noted which, if present, are clear indications that a particularsection of the data path is responsible for an Event, the possibilitiesare narrowed such that a determination can be made as to which sectionthe Event originated within.

Operation of the sectionalizer function of the present invention may beenhanced by use of network interface units located at the point ofdemarcation between the LEC and the CPE which provide additionaldiagnostic information to the test and monitor equipment. However, suchnetwork interface units are not necessary.

The details of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are setforth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Once thedetails of the invention are known, numerous additional innovations andchanges will become obvious to one skilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The objects, advantages, and features of this invention will becomereadily apparent in view of the following description, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a relatively simple private DS1 digitalcommunications network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a complex public DS1 communicationsnetwork.

FIG. 3 a is a block diagram of a public DS1 path employing the RemoteModule of the present invention.

FIG. 3 b shows how the present invention is used in a public DS1 path toenhance the sectionalization capability of existing DS1 networks.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the Remote Module of FIGS. 3 aand 3 b.

FIG. 5 is a detailed block diagram of an integrated circuit whichimplements many of the key functions provided by the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic of the Remote Module of FIG. 4 using theintegrated circuit of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a simplified illustration of a data path which includes theRemote Module and Sectionalizer of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the first stage of the filter in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the process of the second stage of the filterin accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 10 a-10 g illustrate a flowchart of the Sectionalizer Process inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings refer tolike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this description, the preferred embodiment and examples shownshould be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on thepresent invention.

Overview

The present invention is a system in which a network interface unit(hereinafter referred to as a “Remote Module”) is combined with a testand performance monitoring device to provide a means by which the originof “Events” which occur can be determined (i.e., the data path can besectionalized). Initially, the operation of the Remote Module isdescribed, followed by a description of the method and apparatus used tosectionalize the data path.

Remote Module

FIG. 3 a shows a public DS1 network employing an inventive networkinterface unit 100 (hereinafter referred to as a “Remote Module”) inaccordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3 a, the RemoteModule 100 is preferably placed at the point of demarcation (networkinterface) 102 between the customer premises equipment (CPE) 104 and thetelephone network 106. In one embodiment shown in FIG. 3 a, thetelephone network 106 includes two end offices 108 and an inter-officetransport 110. The CPE 104 comprises a channel service unit (CSU) 107.The end offices 108 include an office repeater 112, an M13 block 114, atest and performance monitoring equipment block 116, and a fiber opticterminal (FOT) interface 118. The office repeater 112 is passive to theDS1 digital signal for transmission to the Remote Module 100. Themultiplexer portion of an M13 block 114 accepts 28 DS1 signals which mayor may not be operating asynchronously and multiplexes them into asingle DS3 signal using the DS2 level of the North American hierarchy asan intermediate step. The demultiplexer portion of the M13 block 114reverses the process, dismantling the DS3 signal into its 28 constituentDS1s. The test and performance monitoring equipment block 116 monitorsthe data transmitted between the two Remote Modules 100. Theinter-office transport 110 may include one or a plurality of fiber opticlinks, line of sight microwave link, or any other transport means. Inthese cases, the FOT 118 may be replaced with an appropriate transportinterface.

The Remote Module 100 combines, in a compact and an inexpensive unit,the CPE-to-telephone network interface, controlled circuit loop-back,frame format conversion, and CPE loss of signal (LOS) identificationfunctions. The Remote Module 100 provides three major features whichenhance the performance monitoring and testing capability of the networkproviders.

First, the Remote Module 100 can optionally convert the CPE generatedSuperframe (SF) formatted digital signals into Extended Superframe (ESF)formatted signals for transmission over the DS1 transmission system.Frame format conversion allows the local exchange carriers (LECs) toconform their networks to the superior ANSI T1.403 ESF frame format(“ESF frame format”). The ESF frame format permits “Performance ReportMessages” (PRMs) to be transmitted together with digital data over theDS1 transmission system. In addition, the ESF frame format enables theLECs to perform non-intrusive, continuous performance monitoring of boththe CPE 104 and the telephone network 106.

Second, the present invention is capable of performance monitoring usingthe ANSI T1.403 ESF Data Link (DL). Cyclic Redundancy Codes (CRCs) andother performance monitoring data can be generated at one end of a DS1transmission system and periodically (i.e., preferably once per second)transmitted back to some other point in the system in a non-intrusivemanner using the DL. For example, as shown in FIG. 3 b, a CRC code maybe written into the data stream via the CSU 107. Errors can be detectedby the Remote Module 100 and transmitted in PRMs in an ESF-converteddigital signal. The PRMs can then be read by network elements locatedthroughout the DS1 transmission system. For example, the PRMs may beread by the test and performance monitoring block 116. Alternatively,the PRMs may be transmitted throughout the network using the ESF formatand may therefore be made available to local users or Operations Systems(OSs). As shown in FIG. 3 b, the test and performance monitoring block116 serves as a central hub for collecting performance monitoring datawhich is transmitted as ESF-formatted DS1 digital signals. Inalternative embodiments of the DS1 transmission system shown in FIG. 3b, the test and performance monitoring block 116 is modified to screenand analyze performance monitoring data which is generated by the RemoteModules 100 in accordance with the present invention. In thisalternative embodiment, the test and performance monitoring block 116functions as a mediation device for the Operations Systems.

Third, the present invention increases the value and utility of the testand performance monitoring blocks 116 currently in use in intra-LATA(Local Access and Transport Areas) circuits by enhancing thesectionalization capability of existing DS1 transmission systems. Thesectionalization function performed by the test and performancemonitoring blocks 116 on the intra-LATA circuits is shown in FIGS. 3 aand 3 b. The Remote Module 100 enables the test and performancemonitoring blocks 116 to non-intrusively sectionalize problems occurringwithin the DS1 transmission system on intra-LATA circuits, and therebygreatly enhances troubleshooting capability. The Remote Module 100allows the LECs to sectionalize trouble by allowing the PRMs which aregenerated by the Remote Module 100 to be read at several differentlocations throughout the DS1 transmission system. By monitoring thedifference in error counts at various locations within the network, atwhich performance monitoring information is collected, troubled networkelements can be quickly and efficiently isolated to specific sectionswithin the DS1 transmission system.

In addition, the Remote Module 100 is capable of determining whethersignals that are received from the network are in an alarm condition(AIS, LOS, or LOF is present on the signal received by the Remote Modulefrom the network). If the signal received by the Remote Module 100 fromthe network is not in alarm, but the Remote Module 100 is receiving anRAI indication from the CSU 107, then the Remote Module 100 modifies theRAI signal received from the CSU 107 to indicate that the alarmcondition is due to an Event that has occurred within the customerinstallation (i.e., between the Remote Module 100 and the CSU 107). TheRemote Module 100 also generates an AIS-CI signal to indicate that acondition which would cause an AIS signal to be generated exists on thesignal received by the Remote Module 100 from the CSU 107 (i.e., that analarm condition exists on the signal received by the network from theCPE). Thus, equipment located downstream (such as the test andperformance monitoring equipment 116) can determine where an alarmoriginated.

By either converting the CPE-generated signals into an ESF format, ormodifying ESF signals to provide additional information, the LECs canmonitor the various facilities that make up an end-to-end DS1transmission system. Therefore, when customers complain about degradedor unavailable circuits, the network provider can use the ESF format tolocate the faulty equipment in a real-time, non-intrusive manner. Forexample, and referring now to FIG. 3 b, if the CRC codes generated bythe customer's CSU 107 were monitored at a position 120, and found tocontain 20 error events, the CSU 107, 124 or other customer ownedequipment would be deemed to be responsible for the errors. If at aposition 122 the same data now contained 30 error events, the networkprovider would be deemed to be responsible for 10 of the 30 errorevents. When the CRCs arrive at the far-end CSU 124, they are checked bythe customer's CSU 124. If the data still contains 30 error events fromend-to-end, then the network from 122 is deemed to have been error freebecause there is no change from the number of error events detected atposition 122. The same principle may be used in the reverse direction.Thus, the Remote Module 100, in accordance with the present invention,solves a regulatory and jurisdictional problem for the telephone networkproviders. That is, LECs are responsible for providing quality ofservice but have no control over or right to specify a CPE format whichwould enable them to monitor quality of service.

The ESF format also provides network providers the ability toproactively monitor networks for “bad” or marginally bad facilities andto fix internal problems before customers notice a degradation inservice. This capability moves the network providers closer to offeringa “self-healing” network to their customers. From a customer'sperspective, an ESF-converted network, facilitated by the Remote Module100 of the present invention, advantageously increases the availabilityof the network, increases efficiency and decreases the down-timeassociated with the prior art network interface units.

The Remote Modules 100 of the present invention, e.g., shown in FIG. 3a, are transparent to the CPE 104. Signals are re-converted into theiroriginal format before being transmitted to the CPE 104. The RemoteModules 100 are preferably compatible with all commonly used DS1formats. Frame format conversion and the addition of a DL maintenancechannel do not adversely affect customer payload data. For example, ifthe CPE 104 generates an SF-formatted digital DS1 signal, the DS1 signalis converted into an ESF-formatted signal for transmission over thenetwork 106. Conversely, ESF-formatted digital DS1 signals are convertedby the Remote Modules 100 to SF-formatted signals when the CPE 104operates using that format.

Detailed Discussion of the Remote Module

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the Remote Module 100 of FIGS. 3 a and 3b. As shown in FIG. 4, the Remote Module 100 includes an SF-to-ESF frameformat converter 200, a PRM generator 202, a CRC block 204, an ESF-to-SFframe format converter 206, a LOS detector and AIS insertion block 208,and a loop-back detection block 210. As described above, the frameformats used to transmit the DS1 signals are selected by the end usersand are typically determined by the type of CSU 107 used by the endusers.

New model CSUs typically provide users with an option for selectingbetween the SF and ESF frame formats. However, most of the CSUscurrently in use provide only the SF frame format. The SF-to-ESFconverter block 200 of the Remote Module 100 changes the superframe (SF)formatted signal (having only 12 frames) to an extended superframesignal (ESF) having 24 frames, each frame having 193 bits of data. Inboth the SF and ESF frame formats, the 1st bit of each frame is used asan overhead bit.

The SF and ESF frame formats have 8 kb/s of overhead capacity. In theESF frame format, the overhead capacity per extended superframe aredivided into three independent channels having capacities as indicatedbelow:

-   -   fps (framing): 2 kb/s    -   CRC (error checking): 2 kb/s    -   DL (data link): 4 kb/s

An fps pattern is repeated on a per extended superframe basis. The CRCis also repeated on a per extended superframe basis. However, apolynomial remainder carried by the CRC bits results from a polynomialdivision carried out over the payload bits of the previous extendedsuperframe. Although the fps and CRC bits repeat in patterns which aresynchronous with, and fully contained within, the boundaries of anextended superframe, such is not the case with the DL. The three typesof patterns carried by the DL have lengths as follows:

-   -   HDLC flags (idle code): 8 bits    -   unscheduled message: 16 bits    -   scheduled message (PRM without stuffing): 104 bits.

The DL provides 12 bits per superframe. It is not possible to align anyof the possible DL patterns exactly on extended superframe boundariesand all of them overlie extended superframe boundaries in mostinstances. The overhead capacity of an ESF formatted DS1 signaltherefore is occupied by three separate and distinct signals.

When converting from the SF to the ESF frame format, the SF-to-ESFconverter 200 generates the frame, signal management, and CRC overheadbits in accordance with the provisions of AT&T PUB 54016 and ANSIT1.403. The Remote Module 100 implements the ANSI T1.403 DL protocol,which allows performance report messages to be transmitted between theRemote Module 100 and another element in the telephone network 106.

The SF-to-ESF converter 200 and the ESF-to-SF converter 206 provide theRemote Module 100 with the ability to make use of an unused customer DLwith SF and ESF-formatted signals not in ANSI T1.403 ESF format. TheRemote Module 100 converts such a DL into the ANSI T1.403 ESF format byadding PRMs to the unused DL. Therefore, the conversion blocks 200, 206,allow the LEC to operate its network in the ANSI T1.403 ESF formatregardless of the framing format used by the CPE. For example, if thecustomer's CSU 107, 124 uses the ANSI T1.403 ESF frame format, theRemote Module 100 does not alter the frame format for transmission tothe telephone network 106. However, if the customer's CSU 107, 124 usesthe SF or anon-ANSI T1.403 format, the Remote Module 100, and morespecifically the converter blocks 200, 206, convert the unused customerDL to the ANSI T1.403 ESF frame format by adding PRMs. The ANSI T1.403ESF-formatted signal is transmitted by the Remote Module 100. TheESF-to-SF conversion block 206 converts the ESF formatted DS1 signalinto the SF format used by the CSUs 107, 124.

The Remote Module implements a protocol which prevents its PRMs frominterfering with the transmission of AT&T PUB 54016 data if such data ispresent in the DL. The Remote Module momentarily delays PUB 54016 pollsand responses and releases them in an uncorrupted manner.

The conversion blocks 200, 206 function differently depending upon thespecific version of the ESF DS1 format used by the CSUs 107, 124. Forexample, when the CSUs 107, 124 use the ESF format without PRMs, CRCcalculations are performed on the signal as it is transmitted to theCSUs 107, 124. The PRMs are written into the signal transmitted by theCSUs 107, 124 in the same manner as they would normally be written bythe CSUs 107, 124 if the CSU 107, 124 were operating in conformance withthe ANSI T1.403 ESF standard. When the CSUs 107, 124 use the ESF withAT&T PUB 54016 data, the CRC calculations are performed on the signal inthe direction of transmission toward the CPE 104 (i.e., toward CSU 107).In this case, the PRMs are written into the signal as it is transmittedtoward the telephone network 106. When the CSUs 107, 124 areinterrogated by a network element (via a facilities data link), PUB54016 messages are momentarily delayed within the Remote Module 100 soas to avoid collision with T1.403 messages. At most, PUB 54016 data isdelayed for no longer than 20 milliseconds. The SF-to-ESF converterblock 200 and the ESF-to-SF converter block 206 inhibit the insertion ofthe PRMs until the AT&T PUB 54016 Performance Report is transmitted backto the network. If the CSUs 107, 124 use an ANSI T1.403 ESF format (PRMspresent), the converter blocks 200, 206 simply pass the signalstransparently in both directions of transmission.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC) 301 which implements many of the functions of the RemoteModule 100 of FIGS. 3 a, 3 b, and 4. The ASIC 301 of FIG. 5 maygenerally be broken down into two halves: a top (receive) half used toaccept network signals as input and generate signals to the customerpremises equipment on output, and a bottom (transmit) half which acceptsdigital signals from the customer premises equipment and generatessignals for transmission over the network. The receive half (i.e.,network-to-CPE) includes a clock synchronizer (CLK SYNC) 302, a B8ZS/AMIdecode block 304, an LB detector block 306, an LOS detector block 308,an Out-Of-Frame (OOF) detector block 310, a CRC calculation block 312, aDL detector block 314, a bit 2 overwrite (OR) block 316, a CRC insertionblock 318, a frame (FRM) insertion block 320, a DL input FIFO 322, a DLoutput FIFO 324. a UNSCH MSG INS block 326, and an AMI/B8ZS encode block328. The transmit half (i.e., CPE-to-network) of the ASIC 301 includes aclock synchronizer (CLK SYNC) block 340, a B8ZS/AMI decode block 342, anLB detector block 344, an LOS detector 346, an Out-Of-Frame (OOF)detector 348, a CRC calculation block 350, a DL detector block 352, abit 2 overwrite (OR) block 354, a CRC insertion block 356, an FRM INSblock 358, an AMI/B8ZS encode block 360, a DL input FIFO 362, a DLoutput FIFO 364, and an UNSCH MSG INS block 366. Both the receive(network-to-CPE) and the transmit (CPE-to-network) halves of the ASIC301 are controlled by a command and control block 300.

All processing of data within the Remote Module 100 is synchronized tothe Remote Module master clock SCLK 370. However, the data received fromthe network 106 and the customer premises equipment is independentlyclocked and synchronized to their associated DS1 incoming clocks by theclock synchronizing blocks 302 and 340. The FIFOs 322, 324, 362, and364, facilitate the transfer of data between the telephone network 106and the customer through-paths and the portions of the Remote Module 100which are synchronous to the SCLK 370.

The key functions provided by the ASIC 301 of FIG. 5 include the abilityto perform loop-back functions, LOS detection via the LOS detectorblocks 308, 346, AIS generation, frame format conversion, andperformance monitoring functions. These key functions are performed bythe present Remote Module 100 on both the input and output signals(i.e., the signal received from the telephone network 106 by the CPE 104and the signal transmitted by the CPE 104 to the telephone network 106).

Performance monitoring on both the telephone network 106 and customersignals generated by the CPE 104 includes conventional LOS detection,Bipolar Violation detection, frame bit error (FBE) and CRC errordetection. In addition, the Remote Module 100 has the ability tooverwrite data which is transmitted from the telephone network 106 tothe customer's CPE 104. The Remote Module 100 preferably can overwriteboth the frame bit (FB) and the AIS. Similarly, the Remote Module 100can overwrite data transmitted by the customer's CPE 104 to thetelephone network 106. For example, the Remote Module 100 can overwritethe FB, CRC, DL/PRM, RAI (standard and non-standard versions), RAIalternative (“bit 2 overwrite”) and AIS bits. The symmetricalperformance monitoring and overwrite capability on both theCPE-to-network and network-to-CPE data streams enhances the usefulnessof the Remote Module 100 for potential future applications.

Referring to FIG. 5, the LOS detector blocks 308, 346, enable the RemoteModule 100 to detect a loss of signal from both the telephone network106 and the CPE 104. The LOS detector 308 treats a loss of signalreceived from the telephone network 106 conventionally by sending an AISto the CPE 104. RAI signals or another signal which is compatible withexisting standards, are preferably used to signal upstream equipment inthe telephone network 106 of a loss of signal.

Advantageously, the present Remote Module 100 processes a loss of signalreceived from the CPE 104 using an AIS or other similar signal toindicate that the CPE 104 is disconnected from the telephone network 106or is out-of-service. In addition, as described in more detail below,the present invention preferably generates a variant of the AIS signal(referred to as AIS-CI) to indicate that the alarm originated within theCPE.

The AIS or other similar signal advantageously provides LEC maintenancepersonnel the ability to filter alarms originating from outside thetelephone network 106. The Remote Module 100, and more specifically, theLOS Detector Blocks 308, 346, preferably determines the occurrence of anLOS based solely upon logic values detected in the incoming bit stream.Power and amplitude of the incoming signals are preferably not used forLOS detection.

Upon detection of an LOS from the network signals, the Remote Module 100relays an RAI signal generated by the CSU 107 to the network. If the CSUis operating in SF format, Remote-Module 100 is not converting thesignal to ESF format, and the Remote Module 100 is configured to routethe RAI signal, the RAI is preferably indicated by forcing “bit 2” ofeach channel byte to a logic 0 value for a period of not less than 1second duration. Alternatively, if either the CSU 107 is operating inESF format or a conversion to ESF format is performed by the RemoteModule 100, the RAI is sent as an unscheduled DL message in accordancewith ANSI T1.403. In addition, the Remote Module 100 is preferablycapable of modifying a received RAI signal to indicate that the RAI wasdue to a loss of signal within the CPE (between the Remote Module 100and the CSU 107). That is, upon detecting that the signal received bythe Remote Module 100 from the network is not in alarm condition, theRemote Module determines that receipt of an RAI from the CSU 107indicates that the signal was lost within the CPE and generates anRAI-CI signal. Details regarding the RAI-CI signal are provided below.

The command and control block 300 of FIG. 5, together with a controlmicroprocessor 400 (shown in FIG. 6) performs the ESF-to-SF andSF-to-ESF conversion functions as shown in the conversion blocks 200,206, of FIG. 4. Control software is executed by both the command andcontrol block 300 and the microprocessor 400. The control softwarecontrols the conversion of the CPE-generated frame format to an ESFformat. Upon receipt of frames from the network, the command and controlblock 300 and the microprocessor 400 preferably convert the framestructure transmitted from the network to the Remote Module back to anSF format without altering the payload data bits before transmitting theframe to the CPE. The microprocessor configures the ASIC. The controlblock stores configuration information for the ASIC and reports statusand error counts back to the microprocessor. In order for the RemoteModule 100 to transmit performance monitoring data to the network,transmission capacity is borrowed from the overhead channel present inthe DS1 digital signal. The Remote Module 100 uses the 4 Kb/s DL channelpresent in the ESF-formatted signals to transmit performance monitoringreports to other equipment in the DS1 transmission system. Preferably,an element in the network (a test and performance monitoring block 116or other network element) reads and analyzes the performance monitoringdata gathered by the Remote Module 100. In the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, Bipolar Violations are transferred transparentlythrough the Remote Module 100 in both directions. When the Remote Module100 performs frame format conversion, and an incoming Bipolar Violationis detected in an overhead bit position, it is written by the RemoteModule 100 into the identical overhead bit position, unless the logicvalue carried by that bit position is changed from a logical 1 to a 0 bythe frame format conversion method performed by the present invention.When the overhead bit position is changed from a logical 1 to a 0 due tothe frame format conversion performed by the Remote Module 100, nooutgoing Bipolar Violation is written into the data stream. Thisalgorithm ensures that outgoing Bipolar Violations closely correspond toincoming Bipolar Violations.

If the command and control block 300 detects a loss of frame on anincoming signal, the command and control block 300 inhibits frame formatconversion until the Remote Module 100 reframes the input signal.Reframing is known and is performed under software control. Inhibitingframe conversion prevents interference with the transmission of unframedmaintenance signals and fault locate codes.

Data Flow through the Remote Module

Referring simultaneously to FIGS. 5 and 6, bipolar signals are receivedfrom the network over the “tip-1” 410 and “ring-1” 412 receive lines.After transmission through a receive protection circuit 414, the bipolarsignals are transmitted to a transceiver 416 over the N1TIP 418 andN1RING 420 signal lines. The transceiver 416 converts the bipolarsignals to unipolar signals which are comprised of 2 dual-rail signals(1 positive rail and 1 negative rail) and a clock. Specifically, thetransceiver 416 converts the bipolar signals received from the N1TIP 418and N1RING 420 signal lines into unipolar signals and transmits theunipolar signals over 3 network-receive data lines: N1CLKIP 422, N1NEGIP424, and N1POSIP 426. The transceiver 416 similarly converts the bipolarsignals generated by the CPE and received at T2-C 486 and R2-C 488 intounipolar signals and transmits the unipolar signals over 3 CPE-receivedata lines: CPECLKIP 428, CPENEGIP 430, and CPEPOSIP 432. In theillustrated embodiment, the 6 receive data lines communicate with theASIC 301 which is shown in more detail in FIG. 5.

Data is output by the ASIC 301 to the CPE 40 and the network through theconventional transceiver 416, such as ST10013 manufactured by Level One.For example, 2 unipolar output signals are transmitted by the ASIC 301over 2 data lines N1POSOP 434 and N1NEGOP 436. The transceiver 416converts the 2 unipolar signals into 2 bipolar signals for transmissionover the bipolar signal lines N2TIP 438 AND N2RING 440. The bipolarsignals are transmitted through an equalizer 442, a line build-outswitch 444, a protection circuit 446, and to the network over “tip-2”448 and “ring-2” 450 transmit lines. The transceiver 416 similarlyconverts 2 unipolar signals generated by the ASIC 301 (CPENEGOP 452 andCPEPOSOP 454) into bipolar signals and transmits the bipolar signalsover 2 CPE-transmit signal lines: C1TIP 456 and C1RING 458. The bipolarsignals are transmitted to the CPE over T1-C 460 and R1-C 462 tip andring lines.

The ASIC 301 and the microprocessor 400 communicate with each other overa read/write control line 464, a chip select (CS) control line 466, anaddress latch enable (ALE) control line 468, an 8-bit data bus 470, anaddress bus 472, an RSTN control line 474, a DTACK control line 476, andan ASYNC control line 478. As shown in FIG. 6, the microprocessor 400and the ASIC 301 have access to a static random access memory (SRAM) 402via shared address and control lines. The SRAM 402 is preferablyimplemented with a 16 k×1 device. Data is output by the ASIC 301 over aDS1DAT data line 480. The microprocessor 400 accesses data which isstored in the SRAM 402 by addressing the desired memory location (usingthe address bus 472), asserting the CSN line 468 low, and asserting aread control signal 482 high (i.e., to a logical “1”).

The data stored at the memory location present on the address bus 472 isoutput by the SRAM 402 on data output lines 484. The microprocessor 400and the ASIC 301 work together to implement the functions provided bythe present invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, themicroprocessor 400 is generally responsible for ensuring that the T1frames are properly aligned after frame format conversion. In addition,the microcontroller 400 monitors the PRMs. Still further, themicrocontroller 400 monitors status of manual switches and illuminatesindicators, such as LED displays.

Referring again to FIG. 5, the data flow through the ASIC 301 is nowdescribed in more detail. The data received from the network enters theASIC 301 on data lines N1POSIP 426 and N1NEGIP 424. The received data isregistered with the received clock N1CLKIP 422. The CLK SYNC block 302synchronizes the data to a master clock SCLK. The output of the CLK SYNCblock 302 is routed to the command and control block 300, a 2-to-1multiplexer 372, and a 3-to-1 multiplexer 374. As described below inmore detail, the multiplexer 372 selects between 2 possible sources fordata which are output by the ASIC 301 onto the network output signallines N1POSOP 434 and N1NEGOP 436. The select control lines (not shown)of the multiplexers 372 and 374 are controlled by the command andcontrol block 300. For example, when performing a network loopbackfunction, the multiplexers 372 and 374 are commanded by the controlblock 300 to select the CLK SYNC 302 output lines 376, 378, and 380. Asa result, during loopback, the signals presented on the tip-1 410 andring-1 412 signal lines are re-routed by the Remote Module 100 to thetip-2 448 and ring-2 450 signal lines (respectfully) for re-transmissionto the network. The multiplexers 382 and 384 function in a similarmanner during a CPE loopback function. That is, during a CPE loopback,the select control lines of the multiplexers 382 and 384 are selected bythe control block 300 to re-route the signals presented on the CPE inputdata lines (e.g., CPEPOSIP 432 and CPENEGIP 430) to the CPE output datalines (e.g., CPEPOSOP 454 and CPENEGOP 452).

The data outputs of the CLK SYNC 302 and the CLK SYNC 340 are routed tothe command and control block 300. The command and control block 300processes the data received from the CLK SYNC blocks, 302, 340 andtransfers the received data to the SRAM 402 (FIG. 6) over the data lineDS1DAT 480. The control block 300 stores configuration information forthe ASIC. It also reports status and error counts back to themicroprocessor. The SRAM is used to store a snapshot of the incomingdata stream to be used by the microcontroller to perform off-lineframing on the signal. Data received from the network (i.e., over thereceive data lines N1POSIP 426 and N1NEGIP 424), and processed by theCLK SYNC 302, is transmitted to the B8ZS/AMI decode block 304. Asdescribed above, the B8ZS/AMI decode blocks 304, 342 allow the RemoteModule 100 to accommodate two different types of “zero suppression”techniques: Binary with Eight Zeros Substitution and Alternate MarkInversion. The conversion of data between the two zero suppressiontechniques is well known in the art.

As shown in FIG. 5, the output of the B8ZS/AMI decode block 304 iscoupled via a data line 386 to a second input line of a 4-to-1multiplexer 388. The select control lines (not shown) of the multiplexer388 are controlled by the command and control block 300. By controllingthe select control lines of the multiplexer 388, the command and controlblock can selectively control the data that is input to the AMI/B8ZSencode block 328 and the data that is eventually output to the CPEoutput data lines 452, 454. For example, to output unmodified CPE outputdata, the command and control block 300 selects the second input of themultiplexer 388 (e.g., by presenting a binary “01” on the select controllines), which is coupled to the data line 386, for output to the encodeblock 328. However, when the command and control block 300 selects anyof the other 3 inputs to the multiplexer 328, the data received from thenetwork via data lines 424, 426 is modified before being transmitted tothe CPE 40.

For example, when the control block 300 selects the first input of themultiplexer 388, the multiplexer selects input line 390. Input line 390is tied to a logical “high” signal. which forces the output of themultiplexer 388 to output logical “1's” when the input line 390 isselected. The command and control block 300 selects input line 390 whengenerating an AIS signal to the CPE 40. The command and control block300 generates the AIS signal when it detects errors in the signalreceived from the network. The AIS signal is generated by overwritingthe transmit data with a series of unframed logical 1's.

A similar technique is used when generating AIS signals to the networkupon failure of the CPE-generated data. For example, when the controlblock 300 detects a loss of signal in the CPE data lines 430, 432 thecontrol block 300 forces select lines of a 4-to-1 multiplexer 392 toselect an AIS GEN input line 394. By selecting the input line 394, thecontrol block 300 forces network output lines 434, 436 to logical 1'sfor a period of time. However, not all of the network output bits areoverwritten with logical 1's. For example, the DL is not overwrittenwith 1's. The command and control block 300 overwrites data in a mannerwhich depends upon the DL format used by the Remote Module 100. Forexample, if the DL uses a “scheduled” message format, the flags“01111110” “01111110” are transmitted to the network, while all otheroverhead and payload bits are forced to a logical 1. This produces asignal which is easily detected by other network devices. This enablesnetwork devices to determine that the alarm is caused by CPE 40, ratherthan network equipment. If the DL uses an “unscheduled” message format,all bits, with the exception of the idle code, are forced to a logical1.

By selecting the third inputs of the multiplexers 388, 392, the dataoutput by the ASIC 301 (for transmission to either the CPE or thenetwork) is modified as described below. For example, the third input ofmultiplexer 388 is coupled via data line 396 to the output of a 4-to-1multiplexer 398. The select control lines (not shown) to the multiplexer398 are controlled by the control block 300. When the third input of themultiplexer 388 is selected, the data presented on the data line 396 iseventually output to the CPE 40. The data that is presented on the dataline 396 depends upon which of the 4 inputs of the multiplexer 398 areselected by the control block 300.

For example, if the output of the bit 2 OWR block 316 is selected, bit 2of each channel byte is overwritten with a logical “0” by the RemoteModule 100. As described above, the present invention uses 2 differentmeans for encoding an RAI signal. One means requires overwriting bit 2of each channel byte to 0 for a period of not less than 1 second. Toaccomplish this task, the control block 301 selects the output of bitOWR block 316 as the input to multiplexer 398 whenever an RAI signal isdetected. The other means requires transmitting repetitive unscheduledmessages having a pattern of eight 1's followed by eight 0's. To performthis function, the control block 300 selects the output of a 3-to-1multiplexer 303 and concurrently selects the UNSCH MSG INS block 326 foroutput from the multiplexer 303. The UNSCH MSG INS block 326 providesthe desired pattern of eight 1's followed by eight 0's for transmissionthrough the multiplexer 303, the multiplexer 398, the encode block 328,and to the CPE through the output data lines 452, 454. Thus, the RAI issent as an unscheduled DL message in accordance with ANSI T1.403standard.

By selecting the output of the CRC insertion block 318 via themultiplexer 398, the command and control block 300 inserts CRC codesinto the data stream to be output to the CPE. A 6-bit CRC code iscalculated over a superframe of data in a manner specified by nationalstandard. A CRC code is generated after the transmission of itsassociated superframe of data. The CRC code is inserted into thetransmitted data stream by controlling the appropriate select controllines of the multiplexers 388, 398.

By selecting the output of the FRM INS block 320 via the multiplexer398, the command and control block 300 inserts framing patterns into theoutgoing data bit stream. The FRM INS 320 block output is selected whenthe ASIC 301 performs frame format conversion. The FRM INS block sendsthe appropriate framing patterns to be overwritten during frame formatconversion. The control block keeps track of and controls the locationsto be overwritten for correct frame format conversion.

The Remote Module 100 may be configured to operate in a transparentstate (no frame format conversion), a conversion state (SF-formatto/from ESF-format), and an “autoframe” state. As described in moredetail below, when the Remote Module 100 operates in the autoframestate, the command and control block 300, together with themicroprocessor 400, automatically performs frame format conversion, ifpossible, and suppresses format conversion when required.

The Remote Module 100 performs performance monitor operations upon thesignal received from the CPE 104. The parameters which are monitored bythe Remote Module to generate PRMs are CRC errors, frame bit errors,line code violations (e.g., BPVs) and slips. In accordance with the ANSIStandard T1.231-1993, the Remote Module 100 detects an errored second(ES). An error condition is determined by logically-ORing the occurrenceof one or more Bipolar Violations within a measured second having framebit errors. If an error condition is detected, bit U2 (as defined byANSI Standard T1.403-1989) of the next PRM generated and sent to thenetwork is changed from a logic 0 to a logic 1. Patterns having thefollowing definitions are written into the 4 Kb/s DL channel (using theunused R bits in the PRMs):

TABLE 1 BIT PATTERNS* DEFINITIONS 00000000 . . . No Remote Modulepresent or Remote Module disabled. 11111111 . . . Remote Module isgenerating PRMs which displace any data transmitted by the CPE on theDL. 10101010 . . . Remote Module hardware fault detected. 10001000 . . .Remote Module present but simply passing PRMs, no generation of PRMs.

When the facilities data link does not carry a PRM, it is flag-filledwith the following pattern: 01111110. If an LOS is detected from thenetwork, the present Remote Module 100 transmits an RAI priority messageto the telephone network 106. Such a message overwrites any PRM databeing transmitted. This RAI feature may be optionally disabled.

When the CPE uses an ESF-formatted signal, the Remote Module 100 treatsthe DL channel in a different manner depending upon the ESF formatgenerated by the CPE. For example, if the CPE uses an ESF without PRMs,the unused capacity of the DL channel is used by the Remote Module 100as described above for SF-formatted CPE signals. However, the RemoteModule 100 does not need to perform SF-to-ESF conversion in this case.

If the CPE 104 uses an ESF with ANSI T1.403 PRMs, the Remote Module 100does not write the PRMs into the DL channel. The Remote Module 100measures the performance of the signals received from the network andfrom the CPE 104. If parameters are measured in the signal from thenetwork, which would result in a non-zero parameter in a PRM, bit U1 ofthe next PRM which has passed through the Remote Module 100 from the CPE104 to the telephone network 106, is changed from a logic 0 to a logic 1value. If parameters measured in the signal from the CPE 104 result in anon-zero parameter in a PRM, bit U2 of the next PRM, which is passedthrough the Remote Module 100 from the CPE 104 to the telephone network106, is changed from a logic 0 to a logic 1 value.

If the CPE 104 uses an ESF format with AT&T PUB 54016 PerformanceReporting, the unused capacity of the DL channel is used as describedabove with reference to the SF-formatted signals generated by the CPE104. However, as before, there is no need to perform a frame formatconversion. The Remote Module 100 monitors the signal received from thenetwork for AT&T-formatted maintenance messages. Upon observing thecompletion of an AT&T-formatted maintenance message, the Remote Module100 suppresses the transmission or completion of transmission of PRMswhich are generated by the Remote Module 100 until either the stationpolled by the message completes transmission of its response message oruntil 500 milliseconds elapse without a transmission from the polledstation. The Remote Module 100 generates ANSI-formatted PRMs andinterleaves them with the AT&T PRMs generated by other network elements.Performance monitoring is not performed on unframed signals.

Relatively smooth transitions from the ESF to the SF formats have beenobserved in CPE signals arriving at network interfaces. Thesetransitions have misled prior art framers to continue to declare anin-frame condition on a purported ESF signal because the prior art ESFframers do not declare a sufficient amount of errors on an SF signal tocause the declaration of an out-of-frame indication for certainalignments between the framer and such a counterfeit signal.Provisioning is therefore preferably made in the Remote Module 100 toavoid mistaking an SF-formatted signal for an ESF signal. The RemoteModule 100 accomplishes this by preferably logically-ANDing a high framebit error ratio (from 1-in-2 to 1-in-6 frame bits in error) with a highrate of CRC errors as an indicator of a counterfeit pattern.

Of the 12 possible alignments between the SF and ESF overhead patterns,2 cause the SF overhead bits (F_(t)+F_(s) pattern) to mimic the ESFpattern with only 1 error in 6 frame bits. Although this frame bit errorratio is too high to allow an in-frame declaration while framing, it istoo low to cause an in-frame signal to go out-of-frame. However, such a“counterfeiting” of the ESF patterns is accounted for by the RemoteModule.

The out-of-frame blocks 310, 348 count frame errors in known fashion andgenerate out-of-frame signals when at least two of the last four framebits are in error. The CRC blocks 312, 350 calculate CRC codes in aknown fashion for incoming data streams. The DL detect blocks 314, 352monitor the position of the DL within the data stream and in knownfashion strip the DL data from an incoming data stream. The FIFOs 322,324, 362 and 364 buffer DL data so that the microcontroller 400 does notneed to constantly poll the ASIC 301 and thereby exhaust themicrocontroller's processing resources. The FIFOs 322, 324, 362 and 364thereby allow the microcontroller 400 to poll the ASIC 301 on arelatively infrequent basis which frees the microcontroller 400 toperform other functions.

Sectionalizer

The present invention utilizes the information gathering capabilities ofvarious monitoring devices of a data path (such as the Remote Module andan Integrated Transport Access Unit (ITAU)) to monitor and determine theorigin of “Events” within the data path. That is, by generating dataderived from signals received by each monitoring device and transmittingthe data to a Sectionalizer in accordance with the present invention,Events can be determined to have originated between a particular pair ofthe adjacent monitoring devices. FIG. 7 is a simplified illustration ofa data path 700 which includes monitoring devices (such as a RemoteModule 705 and Sectionalizer 707) of the present invention.

In accordance with the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, thecommunications signal originates at a channel service unit (CSU) 701within the customer premises equipment (CPE) 702 a. The signal is routedthrough a network interface unit (NIU) 703, which is preferably a RemoteModule as described above. As described above, the Remote Module 703 islocated at the network interface (i.e., point of demarcation between theCPE 702 and a local exchange carrier (LEC) 704). In accordance with oneconfiguration, the output from the Remote Module 703 is coupled to amultiplexer (such as the M13 shown in FIG. 3 b) which combines aplurality of DS1 signals into a DS3 signal. Such a multiplexer is notshown in FIG. 7 for simplicity.

The output from the Remote Module 703 is shown to be coupled to a testand monitoring device. In accordance with the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the test and monitoring equipment is an ITAU 705as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,495,470 entitled “Alarm CorrelationSystem for a Telephone Network” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,853 entitled“Relative Synchronization System for a Telephone Network”, each assignedto the assignee of the present application and each being incorporatedherein by this reference. In accordance with the present invention, theITAU 705 includes a Sectionalizer 707 in accordance with the presentinvention. The output from the ITAU 705 is shown coupled to a secondRemote Module 703 located at the point of demarcation between the CPE702 b at the receiving end of the data path 700 and the LEC 704 b. Inmany instances, the same LEC 704 will not be directly coupled to bothCPEs 702 a, 702 b at two ends of the data path 700. Accordingly, theremay be a second ITAU (not shown). The first and second ITAU are thencoupled through an intermediate exchange carrier (IEC) (not shown).However, for the purpose of the present invention, it is not necessaryto consider the connections which occur between the two ITAUs 705, sincethe present invention attempts to determine the status of only the eightlegs 709, 711, 713, 715, 717, 719, 721, 723 shown in FIG. 7. Each suchITAU will preferably operate identically, and will preferably have aSectionalizer 707 which operates identically. The Remote Module 703 atthe receiving end of the data path is coupled to a CSU 701 within thereceiving CPE 702.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method and apparatus isprovided for sectionalizing the data path to allow a determination to bemade as to whether an Event is caused by a component at the customerpremises or by a component located outside the customer premises (i.e.,equipment that is maintained by the LEC 704 or the IEC). By determiningwhether equipment at the customer premises is responsible for an Event,a determination can be made as to whether the customer or the LEC 704 isresponsible for more particularly identifying which component within thesystem has caused the Event, repairing or replacing the defectiveequipment and thus preventing the Event from reoccurring.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention,the ITAU 705 preferably has the ability to monitor Events, including allof the DS1 performance primitives and parameters defined within theAmerican National Standards Institute publication ANSI T1.231. Theseinclude: performance anomalies, such as line anomalies (includingbipolar violations (BPV) and excessive zero (EXZ)), path anomalies (suchas cyclical redundancy check errors, frame bit errors, line defects,such as Loss of signal (LOS)), and path defects (such as out of frame(OOF) and alarm indication signal (AIS)).

In addition to directly monitoring the signals received from the RemoteModule 703, the ITAU 705 has the ability to decode scheduled messages,such as a Performance Report Message (PRM) transmitted by the CSU 701,and unscheduled messages, such as RAI in ESF format. In accordance withANSI T1.231, PRMs include information regarding the signal that wasreceived by the device which generates the PRM. ANSI T1.231 PRMs includea bit for determining whether the PRM was generated within the customerinstallation (CI) or by the carrier and data concerning the status ofthe signal over the last four seconds, including: (1) how many CRCerrors were present; (2) whether a severely errored frame occurred; (3)whether a frame synchronization bit error event occurred; (4) whether aline code violation event occurred; (5) whether a slip event occurred;and (6) whether payload loopback is activated. In accordance with oneconfiguration of the present invention, PRMs are generated by the CSU701. Accordingly, the ITAU 705 can determine the status of signalstransmitted over the leg 723 between the Remote Module 703 and the CSU701, and at the other end of the path 700, signals transmitted over theleg 715 between the Remote Module 703 and the CSU 701.

Preferably, additional information can be inserted into the PRMs by theRemote Module 703. That is, in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention, the Remote Module performs performance monitoringoperations upon the signal received from the CSU 701. The parameterswhich are monitored by the Remote Module include CRC errors, frame biterrors, line code violations, and slips. It should be understood that inan alternative embodiment of the present invention, the Remote Modulemay be configured to monitor other combinations of performanceprimitives and parameters. Preferably, each Remote Module 703 controlsthree bits within the ANSI PRM in order to communicate the status of thesignals that are received by the Remote Module from both the CSU 701 andthe ITAU 705. These three bits are the “U1”, “U2”, and “R” bits, asdefined by ANSI T1.403-1995. For example, if ANSI PRMs are beinggenerated by the CSU 701, and an Event is detected by the Remote Module703 on leg 721 from the ITAU 705, then the Remote Module 703 determineswhich PRM received from the CSU 701 corresponds to the Event noted bythe Remote Module 703. The U1 bit within the corresponding PRM is thenasserted to indicate that the Remote Module has detected an Event on leg721. Similarly, the U2 bit is asserted if the Remote Module determinesthat an Event has occurred on leg 709. In addition, the R bit is used toindicate one of four possible conditions, as shown in Table 1 above.

Preferably, the R bit is transmitted at a rate of 1 bit per PRM (or onebit per second). Each new R bit value is written into the R bitassociated with the most recent message. The value of the R bit is thenshifted each second along with the other bits associated with themessage for that second. Accordingly, the ITAU 705 receives from theRemote Module 703 information which can be used to determine the statusof particular legs of the data path 700.

AIS-CI

In addition to supplementing the PRMs generated by the CSU 701, theRemote Module also preferably provides additional information to theITAU 705 regarding the origin. of AIS and RAI signals. For example, theRemote Module 701 preferably generates an Alarm IndicationSignal-Customer Installation (AIS-CI) signal which indicates whethertrouble which would lead to the generation of AIS by the ITAU 705 ispresent in the signal that is received by the Remote Module 703 from theCSU 701. In the preferred embodiment, the AIS-CI signal is a variant ofthe AIS signal defined in T1.403 Clause 9.2. Preferably, the density ofones within the AIS-CI signal is such that the signal will be detectedas an ANSI T1.403 AIS signal. However, the density of zeros is such thatequipment that is designed to detect the signal as an AIS-CI signal willbe able to distinguish the signal from an all ones signal. The AIS-CIsignal is preferably a repetitive interleaving of 1.11 seconds of anunframed all ones pattern and 0.15 seconds of all ones modified by theAIS-CI signature. The AIS-CI signature alters one bit at 386 bitintervals in the DS1 signal. In accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention, the AIS-CI signature is the pattern“0111110011111111” (right to left) in which each of these bits isinserted at the beginning of a series of 386 bits. This results in arepetitive pattern 6176 bits in length in which, if the first bit isnumbered bit 1, bits 3088, 3474, and 5790 are logical zeroes and allother bits in the pattern are logical ones. In the preferred embodimentof the present invention, a candidate AIS-CI signal is declared to beAIS-CI if 99.9% of the bits in the signal conform to the AIS-CIsignature pattern. In an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention, a plurality of signatures may be defined, each being uniqueto a particular location within the data path. Accordingly, when an AISsignal is generated, the first device to generate that AIS signal willmodify the AIS by imposing the AIS-CI signature, thus allowing equipmentfurther upstream to determine the point within the data path at whichthe signal was lost.

RAI-CI

The Remote Module preferably generates a Remote Alarm Signal-CustomerInstallation (RAI-CI) signal which indicates whether the signal receivedat the Remote Module 703 from the ITAU 705 is in a condition that wouldcause the CSU 701 to generate an RAI signal. In accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention, the RAI-CI signal is defined as aframe format dependent signal carried on the DL associated with thesignal. Therefore, when the signal being transmitted from the RemoteModule is in ESF format, the RAI-CI is an unscheduled messagecorresponding to ANSI Extended Superframe RAI modified as follows. For aperiod of 90 milliseconds every 1.08 seconds, the unscheduled message“0000000011111111” (right to left) in the DL is replaced with themessage “0011111011111111” (right to left). This signal satisfies thedefinition set forth in ANSI T1.403-1995 section 9.1. Accordingly, theITAU 705 is provided with additional information from which the ITAU 705can determine whether a received RAI message is provided in response toan Event that originated at the CPE 702 or LEC 704.

If, on the other hand, the signal is being transmitted by the RemoteModule toward the network in SF format, then the Remote Module shallissue RAI-CI toward the network by setting bit 3 of every channel ineach frame to logical one if the following conditions are met: (1) RAIis detected in a SF-formatted signal from the CI, and (2) no conditionleading to the declaration of RAI is detected in the signal from thenetwork. No other bits, including the stream of logical zeroes in bit 2of every channel which indicates RAI, shall be modified.

Event Levels

The preferred embodiment of the present invention assigns a value from0-7 to each leg of the data path 700 for each DS1 and DS3 signal beingcommunicated over the path. Each value corresponds to one of eight EventLevels, as shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Event Level 0 no errors are present Event Level 1 presence of anErrored Second Event Level 2 presence of a severely Errored Second EventLevel 3 not assigned in the preferred embodiment Event Level 4 RemoteAlarm Indication Event Level 5 Alarms (LOS, OOF, AIS) Event Level 6RAI-CI Event Level 7 AIS-CI

It should be noted that both alarm conditions which indicate a completeloss of the ability to decode the payload, and conditions which merelyindicate a degradation in the signal quality due to errors in either thepayload or the overhead, are considered concurrently by the presentinvention in determining the origin of an Event. That is, Events aredefined to include both complete loss of the ability to decode thepayload and conditions which merely indicate a degradation in the signalquality. However, it should be understood that in the preferredembodiment of the present invention, Events may be accuratelysectionalized only if there is one source of the Event. If Eventsoriginate at more than one location within the data path 700, then thepresent invention may not be able to determine the origin of the Events.

Initially, the Sectionalizer of the present invention reformats theperformance monitoring data that has been acquired by the ITAU 705 anddetermines the Event Level associated with each leg of the data path 700for each DS1 and DS3 signal. For example, the Event Level of leg 711 isdetermined as follows.

The first step in determining the Event Level associated with leg 711 isto read the performance data collected by the ITAU 705 to determinewhether an AIS-CI signal pattern is being received by the ITAU 705 fromthe Remote Module 703. If so, then the Event Level associated with leg711 is set to 7. If not, then a determination is made as to whether AIS,a loss of signal (LOS) or an out-of-frame (OOF) condition is beingreceived at ITAU 705. If so, then the Event Level associated with leg711 is set to 5. If not, then a determination is made as to whether theITAU 705 is receiving an RAI signal. If so, then the Event Levelassociated with leg 711 is set to 4. Event Level 3 is unused in theembodiment of the present invention in which the Event Levels aredefined as shown in Table 2.

Therefore, if the performance data indicates that no AIS-CI, RAI-CI,LOS, OOF, AIS, or RAI is presently being received by the ITAU 705, thenext determination to be made is whether the signal received over thelast second at the ITAU 705 is considered to be a “Severely ErroredSecond” (Event Level 2) or an Errored Second (Event Level 1).

Accordingly, performance monitoring data related to each DS1 signalreceived by the ITAU 705 on leg 711 over the last second is read todetermine whether a Severely Errored Second has been detected by theITAU 705. If a Severely Errored Second has been detected by the ITAU705, then the Event Level 2 is associated with leg 711 of thatparticular DS1 or DS3 signal. In accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention, a DS1 Severely Errored Second is defined to includeeach of the following:

-   (1) a severely errored second-line (SES-L) as defined by ANSI    T1.231-1993 at paragraph 6.5.1.3; and-   (2) a severely errored second (SES-P) as defined by ANSI T1.231-1993    at paragraph 6.5.2.5.

If no Severely Errored Second has been detected by the ITAU 705, thenthe Sectionalizer of the present invention reads the performanceprimitives and parameters stored in the ITAU 705 to determine whetherEvent Level 1 should be associated with leg 711. Accordingly, theSectionalizer reads the performance monitoring data related to both DS1and DS3 signals acquired by the ITAU 705 over the last second todetermine whether either a DS1 or DS3 Errored Second has occurred.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a DS1Errored Second is defined as any one of the following:

-   (1) an errored second-line (ES-L) as defined by ANSI T1.231-1993 at    paragraph 6.5.1.2;-   (2) an errored second-path (ES-P) as defined by ANSI T1.231-1993 at    paragraph 6.5.2.2;-   (3) an errored second type A (ESA-P) as defined by ANSI T1.231-1993    at paragraph 6.5.2.3;-   (4) an errored second type B (ESB-P) as defined by ANSI T1.231-1993    at paragraph 6.5.2.4; and-   (5) a frame bit error (FBE) as defined by ANSI T1.231-1993 at    paragraph 6.1.1.2.2

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, DS3 ErroredSeconds are defined as any one of the following:

-   (1) errored second-line (ES-L) as defined by ANSI T1.231-1993 at    paragraph 7.4.1.2;-   (2) errored second-line type A (ESA-L) as defined by ANSI    T1.231-1993 at paragraph 7.4.1.3;-   (3) errored second-line type B (ESB-L) as defined by ANSI    T1.231-1993 at paragraph 7.4.1.4;-   (4) errored second (ESP-P, ESCP-P) as defined by ANSI T1.231-1993 at    paragraph 7.4.2.2;-   (5) errored second type A (ESAP-P, ESACP-P) as defined by ANSI    T1.231-1993 at paragraph 7.4.2.3; and-   (6) errored second type B (ESBP-P, ESBCP-P) as defined by ANSI    T1.231-1993 at paragraph 7.4.2.4.

It should be clear to one of ordinary skill in the art that theparticular performance primitives and parameters that are considered isimplementation dependent. Therefore, alternative embodiments of thepresent invention may either define Errored Seconds differently, or mayuse other performance primitives and parameters to determine the statusof the signal that is received by the ITAU 705. In particular, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the presence offrame bit errors in the signal received from the Remote Module 703 bythe ITAU 705 will cause an Event Level 1 indication.

In a manner similar to that described above with regard to leg 711, theSectionalizer of the present invention determines the Event Level to beassociated with leg 709. However, since the ITAU 705 is not the point oftermination for leg 709, the ITAU 705 relies upon information suppliedby the Remote Module 703. For example, in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention, the Remote Module 703 indicates whether analarm condition is present on leg 709 by modifying the AIS signal toform the AIS-CI. If the Remote Module 703 detects an AIS on leg 709,then the Remote Module 703 generates an AIS-CI signal, as describedabove. When the ITAU 705 receives the AIS-CI signal, that indication isstored and read by the Sectionalizer. Accordingly, when theSectionalizer begins determining the Event Levels of each of the legs709, 711, 721, 723 the fact that an AIS-CI was received by the ITAU 705will cause an Event Level 7 to be associated with leg 711. If the ITAU705 has not received an AIS-CI signal from the Remote Module 703, thenthe Sectionalizer 707 reads the performance monitoring informationstored by the ITAU 705 to determine whether the U2 bit was assertedwithin the PRM received by the ITAU 705 from the Remote Module 703. Asnoted above, the Remote Module 703 preferably asserts the U2 bit withina PRM in order to communicate to the ITAU 705 that the Remote Module hasdetected an Event. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention,the U2 bit within the ANSI PRM is asserted by the Remote Module 703whenever the Remote Module 703 detects an Errored Second. In accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention, the Remote Module 703 hasno means by which to distinguish between a Severely Errored Second andan Errored Second detected on leg 709. Accordingly, in one embodiment ofthe present invention, Event Level 2 is not valid for leg 709. However,it should be understood by those skilled in the art that in analternative embodiment of the present invention, the Remote Module 703may be implemented such that a distinction can be made between SeverelyErrored Seconds and Errored Seconds, thus making both Event Levels 1 and2 valid for leg 709.

With regard to leg 723, the Sectionalizer 707 reads the performancemonitoring information stored in the ITAU 705 to determine whether theITAU 705 has received an RAI-CI signal. If so, then Event Level 6 isassociated with leg 723. Otherwise, assuming that the CSU 701 isgenerating PRMs, the Sectionalizer reads the performance monitoringinformation stored in the ITAU 705 to determine whether any of thefollowing have occurred: (1) a CRC error event; (2) a severely erroredframing event; (3) a frame synchronization bit error event or out offrame condition; (4) a line code violation event; (5) a controlled slipevent; (6) an excess zero condition; (7) presence of an alarm indicationsignal; (8) presence of a remote alarm indication; or (9) loss ofsignal. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the ITAU705 receives information through the PRM regarding the status of leg723. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, if anyof the above mentioned five events have occurred (i.e., any PerformanceMonitoring (PM) bits of an ANSI PRM are asserted) then Event Level 1 isassociated with leg 723.

The same procedure is followed to determine the Event Level to beassociated with legs 713, 715, 717, and 719. That is, the same methodmay be used to determine the status of leg 713 that was described abovefor determining the Event Level associated with leg 721. Likewise, theEvent Levels associated with legs 715, 717, and 719 can be determined inthe same manner as described above with respect to legs 723, 709, and711, respectively.

Generation of Masks

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a“Mask” is generated to indicate the Event Levels associated with eachleg of each DS1 or DS3 signal. The Mask is a 32 bit long word in whichthe first 3 bits represent the Event Level associated with leg 711, thesecond 3 bits represent the Event Level associated with leg 713, etc. Inaddition to the 24 bits which represent the Event Levels associated witheach leg, four pairs of one bit flags are preferably provided as part ofthe Mask to indicate various conditions. The first pair of these flags(RM-1, RM-2) indicate whether a Remote Module is present between the CSU701 and the ITAU 705, each flag indicating the presence of one of thetwo Remote Modules 703. The second pair of flags (CP-1, CP-2) indicatewhether PRMs are being generated by the CPE 702, each flag relating toone direction. The third pair of flags (SI-1, SI-2) indicate whether theSectionalizer 707 is still working to determine the origin of the event(i.e., “Signal Identification” is in progress), each flag relating toone direction. The fourth pair of flags (AIS-1, AIS-2) indicate AIS isbeing received by the ITAU 705, each flag relating to one direction. Thevalue of these flags may be transmitted to a user in a message, or maybe used to alter the appearance of the information to be displayed.Details regarding the appearance of the display output by theSectionalizer are provided below.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention,the Sectionalizer is capable of providing information to users through adisplay, such as a display which is incorporated within the ITAU 705.Further details regarding the appearance of the display are providedbelow. Also, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,the Sectionalizer is capable of composing messages which can betransmitted over any of communications links available to the ITAU 705using conventional protocols, such as the Transaction Language 1 (TL1)protocol defined by Bellcore and used in communications between the ITAU705 and an Operations Systems (OSs). The format for such messages isprovided below.

The Event Levels determined for each leg of each signal can be outputfrom the Sectionalizer in one of three “Modes”: (1) Filtered Mode, inwhich the raw information received from the components of the data pathare subjected to a filtering process to correlate the Events and providea more stable output Mask; (2) History Mode, in which the outputcomprises a collection of previously stored filtered Masks, eachrepresenting the Event Levels of each leg of the data path 700 at apoint in time. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention,each filtered Mask is stored upon a determination that the leg in whichan Event originated has changed; and (3) Current Mode, in which the mostrecently determined Event Levels are output without filtering.

The output in each of these three Modes can be represented in either aSectionalized View or a Data View. In Sectionalized View, the Mask(s) tobe output are processed by a Sectionalizer Process which sets the EventLevel of each leg to zero except for the leg in which the Eventoriginates. The Sectionalizer Process is described in detail below. InData View, the Mask is output without processing by the SectionalizerProcess.

Once the Event Levels associated with each of the eight legs of the datapath 700 are determined for a particular DS1 or DS3 signal, theSectionalizer 707 preferably implements a two stage filter procedure foreach leg of each DS1 signal to be sectionalized. Filtering is preferablyperformed regardless of which output Mode is selected. Filtering allowsthe present invention to perform an automatic time correlation function.That is, each monitoring device (e.g., Remote Module, Sectionalizer,CSU, etc.) determines that an Event has occurred when errors aredetected during a one second interval. Therefore, an Event that causeserrors to occur over a period of 0.75 seconds may be seen by onemonitoring device to have occurred entirely within a particular onesecond interval. However, another monitoring device may detect the Eventas having occurred over a period which straddles two different onesecond intervals (i.e., a first portion of errors occurred in a firstsecond interval, and a second portion of errors occurred in a next onesecond interval). In order to determine that the errors that are seen atone location are the same errors that were seen at another location, theone second intervals should be synchronized to one another. However,such synchronization is cumbersome. In accordance with the presentinvention, rather than synchronizing the one second intervals, thefollowing filter function is applied to ensure that an Event that isreported in two different seconds by one device and in only one secondin a second device is detected as being one and the same Event.

First Stage Filtering

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the first stage of the filter. The first stageof the filter reduces the number of changes which occur in each EventLevel by updating the Event Level only when the value of the Event Levelincreases or when the value of the Event Level has decreased and remainsat a decreased Event Level for a predetermined amount of time. Theduration of the predetermined amount of time is preferably dependentupon the value of the Event Level last output from the first stagefilter.

Referring to FIG. 8, a “New” Mask is read by the Sectionalizer 707 fromthe memory within the ITAU 705 at one second intervals (STEP 801).Initially, the New Mask is checked to determine whether the data path iseither out of service or under test. In accordance with one embodimentof the present invention, the fact that the data path is out of serviceis indicated by the ITAU 705 setting the New Event Level associated withleg 709 and leg 717 to an Event Level of “7” within the Mask. It shouldbe clear that an indication that AIS-CI is present is inappropiate forlegs 709 and 717 (i.e., an AIS-CI can never occur on either leg 709 orleg 717). Therefore, an Event Level “7” on leg 709 and 717 is redefinedto indicate that the data path is out of service. Likewise, an EventLevel “6” is inappropriate for either leg 709 or 717. Therefore, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, Event Level “6”has been redefined to indicate that the data path is under test. Inaccordance with the present invention, if the data path is out ofservice, then the New Mask is overwritten with Event Level “7” in eachleg. Similarly, if the data path is in test, then the New Mask isoverwritten with Event Level “6” in each leg. If the data path is eitherout of service or under test, then the New Mask will not have anyinformation that indicates whether a Remote Module is present or whetherPRMs are being generated by the CPE. Therefore, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention, information regarding the presenceof a Remote Module and PRMs generated by the CPE is read from an outputregister of the first filter, which remains unchanged from the last timea received Mask indicated that the data path was not under test or outof service. The information read from the output register is copied intothe New Mask.

The New Event Level is then compared with a “Current Event Level” (STEP803). Initially, the Current Event Level is set to zero. Therefore, ifthe Event Level for that particular leg is 0 (i.e., there were no Eventson that leg), then an “On-Count” value is incremented from an initialvalue of zero and an “Off-Count” value is reset to zero (STEP 805). Thevalue of the On-Count is then checked to determine whether the On-Countvalue is greater than a “Max-On” value (STEP 807). The Max-On value isselected to provide stability. In the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, the Max-On value is equal to 3.

Since the On-Count will not be equal to the Max-On value the first timethrough the loop, the value of the Off-Count is compared to a “Max-Off”value (STEP 811). Likewise, the Off-Count will not be equal to theMax-Off count the first time through. Therefore, the process returns toSTEP 801. If the New Event Level remains the same as the Current EventLevel sufficiently long for the On-Count to increment up to the value ofthe Max-On value, then the Event Level Out will be set to the value ofthe Current Event Level. That is, the Current Event Level will haveremained stable for a sufficiently long time to pass through the firststage filter and will be output. As long as the New Event Level remainsunchanged, the process will continue in this loop.

However, if the New Event Level becomes greater than the Current EventLevel (e.g., an errored second is detected in the leg) (STEP 813), thenthe On-Count is reset to one, the Off-Count is reset to zero, and theCurrent Event Level is updated with the value of the New Event Level(STEP 816). Since the On-Count will not be equal to the Max-On value(STEP 807), and the Off-Count will not be equal to the Max-Off value(STEP 811), the process returns to STEP 801. If the New Event Levelpersists for the number of passes required to increment the On-Countvalue to the Max-On value (STEP 807), then the Event Level will beoutput from the first stage of the filter by setting the value of theEvent Level Out to the value of the Current Event Level (STEP 809).

If, however, the New Event Level is less than the Current Event Level(STEP 803) during one of the passes before the Max-On value is exceededby the On-Count, then the On-Count will be incremented (STEP 816) andalso the Off-Count will be incremented. In accordance with theembodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 8, the amount by whichthe Off-Count is incremented is determined by checking whether the EventLevel Out value is greater than a predetermined Event Level value, suchas “3” in the case shown, (indicating that the event detected is analarm condition). If greater than “3”, then the Off-Count is incrementedat a relatively slow rate (e.g., by one) (STEP 819). If, however, theEvent Level is not greater than “3”, then the Off-Count is incrementedat a relatively rapid rate (e.g., by two) (STEP 821). In either case, itcan be seen that in accordance with the first stage of the filter ofFIG. 8, the value of the Current Event Level is not updated with thevalue of the New Event Level. Therefore, the higher previously readEvent Level will be held until the Off-Count is exceeded in STEP 811. Inaccordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, theOn-Count will always become equal to the Max-On value before theOff-Count equals or exceeds the Max-Off value. Accordingly, the highestEvent Level will always be output from the first stage of the filter.

If the New Event Level remains below the Current Event Level for asufficient number of passes for the Off-Count to become equal to orgreater than the Max-Off value, then the Current Event Level is updatedto the value of the New Event Level, the Event Level Out is set to thevalue of the Current Event Level, and the Off-Count is reset to zero(STEP 823). The filter process than repeats from STEP 801.

It can be seen that the first stage of the filter operates to reduce thenumber of times the Event Level Out changes by only changing the outputvalue when the New Event Level drops and remains lower for apredetermined amount of time or the New Event Level increases.Furthermore, it should be noted that the first stage of the filteroperates on the Event Level associated with each leg of the data path700 independently.

Second Stage Filtering

The second stage of the filter operates on the Event Levels associatedwith all of the legs of the data path 700 for one DS1 signalconcurrently. FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the process of the second stageof the filter. Initially, the Event Levels associated with each leg arechecked for any change between the New Event Levels and the Old EventLevels (STEP 901). If there has been no change in the Event Levels, thena check is made to determine whether a “Filt-Cnt” value is greater thana predetermined value (STEP 903). If not, then a check is made todetermine whether the Old Event Levels have previously been output fromthe second filter (STEP 905). If so, then the process returns to STEP901. If not, then the value Filt-Cnt is incremented and then the processreturns to STEP 901.

If the Old Event Levels have not been previously output, and these stepsare repeated for a sufficient number of times, the value of Filt-Cntwill eventually exceed the predetermined value (which it can be seenrepresents a “Send Delay” in the output of the Event Levels from thesecond filter). Once this delay is exceeded (STEP 903), another check ismade to determine whether the Old Event Levels have been outputpreviously (STEP 907). If so, then the process loops back to STEP 901.If not, then a determination is made as to whether “SignalIdentification” is in progress (STEP 909). That is, as stated above, theRemote Module 703 has the ability to modify AIS and RAI signals toindicate whether those signals are due to an Event that originated atthe customer installation or in the LEC/IEC equipment. However, decodingthese signals requires monitoring them for a period of time. Forexample, in one embodiment of the present invention, the AIS-CI signalis identical to the AIS signal for 1.11 seconds, after which thepreceding 0.15 seconds are uniquely modified. Likewise, the RAI-CIsignal is identical to the RAI signal for 0.99 seconds, after which thepreceding 0.090 seconds are uniquely modified. Since the length of acomplete modified signal takes 1.26 seconds in the case of AIS-CI and1.08 seconds in the case of RAI-CI to transmit, Signal Identificationrequires this amount of time. Therefore, Signal Identification takesplace during the time that the ITAU 705 is attempting to determinewhether a received RAI or AIS signal has been modified to an RAI-CI oran AIS-CI the system. If Signal Identification is in progress, then acheck is made to determine whether a “Max Delay” value has been exceededby the value of Filt-Cnt (STEP 911). If not, then the value of Filt-Cntis incremented (STEP 913) and the process returns to STEP 901. However,if the value of Filt-Cnt is equal to or greater than the Max Delayvalue, the Event Levels are output and the Filt-Cnt value is reset tozero (STEP 915). Next the process returns to STEP 901.

If the Event Levels input to the second stage of the filter change (STEP901), then a determination is made as to whether any of the New EventLevels are less than the Old Event Levels (STEP 917). If not, then theFilt-Cnt value is reset to zero (STEP 919) and the Old Event Levels areupdated with the New Event Levels (STEP 921). The process then returnsto STEP 901. However, if at least one of the New Event Levels associatedwith one of the legs is less than one of the Old Event Levels associatedwith that same leg, then a determination must be made as to whether thelast output Event Levels are also less than the Old Event Levels (STEP923). If not, then the Filt-Cnt can be reset and the Old Event Levelsupdated with the New Event Levels, since the higher of the old and NewEvent Levels were previously output. However, if the last output EventLevels are less than the Old Event Levels, then the Old Event Levelsmust be output (STEP 925) to prevent the higher Event Levels from beingoverwritten without being output. Once the Old Event Levels have beenoutput, then the Old Event Levels can be updated with the New EventLevels (STEP 921).

It can be seen from the above description of the second stage of thefilter that when the Event Levels are increasing in value, a delay isimposed on the output of those Event Levels in order to prevent theEvent Levels from changing too rapidly. However, when the Event Levelsare decreasing, the delay is dismissed and the Event Levels are outputimmediately to ensure that the higher Event Levels are not lost.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the twostage filter described above and illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, in analternative embodiment, the present invention may have a single stagefilter, a filter having more than two stages, or no filter at all.

Sectionalizer Process

After the Event Levels have been filtered, each Mask is preferablysectionalized by the following Sectionalizer Process. FIGS. 10 a-10gillustrate a flowchart of the Sectionalizer Process in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention. In accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention, the Mask to be operated upon iswritten to an input register. The output from the process is a Mask thatis written to an output register.

In accordance with the process shown in the flowchart of FIGS. 10 a-10g, the input register into which the Mask associated with a DS1 channelto be sectionalized is written can be read from, and written into, bythe Sectionalizer 707. The present invention preferably results in aMask being written to an output register. The value of the Maskindicates the leg in which an Event originated, and the type of Eventwhich originated in that leg. For example, if a loss of signal occurredin the data path 700 due to a failure of a component within leg 721, theinput register would indicated the presence of an RAI signal at leg 711.The output register would indicate an alarm condition at leg 721 toindicate that the RAI signal received on leg 711 by the ITAU 705 wascaused by an alarm condition on leg 721. The following is a detaileddescription of the process shown in the flowcharts of FIGS. 10 a-10 g.

Initially, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention,the values returned from the filter are checked to determine whether thedata path is either out of service or under test (STEP 1000). If thedata path is either under test or out of service, then the value of theMask is written to the output register and the input registers are allset to zero (STEP 1001). As will be seen, setting the input register toall zero causes the process to fall through to the end. Next, the inputregister is checked to determine whether that portion of the inputregister associated with leg 711 (hereafter known as “the input value ofleg 711”) is equal to Event Level “7”(STEP 1002). If the input value ofleg 711 is equal to “7”, then that portion of the output registerassociated with leg 709 (hereafter referred to as “the output value ofleg 709”) is set to “5”, indicating an alarm condition on leg 709 (STEP1003). That is, an alarm condition on leg 709 must be the cause of anAIS-CI signal on leg 711. This can be understood by noting that AIS-CIis generated by the Remote Module 703 upon receipt by that Remote Moduleover leg 709 of either an AIS signal generated by one of the componentsin leg 709, or receipt by the Remote Module 703 of a signal whichsatisfies the requirements for generation of an AIS-CI signal by theRemote Module 703. Since the Remote Module 703 is preferably placed atthe point of demarcation between the CPE 702 and the LEC equipment, analarm condition on leg 709 must have been generated by equipment that isthe responsibility of the customer who owns the CPE equipment.

Next, the input values of legs 709, 711, 713, and 715 are cleared (STEP1005), since any Event which is reported on these legs would besubordinate to (i.e., due to the same condition as) the alarm that isgenerated at leg 709.

It can be seen that leg 719 is essentially identical to leg 711, howeverleg 719 carries signals in the opposite direction. Therefore, if anAIS-CI signal was received by the ITAU 705 from the Remote Module 703(STEP 1009), then the output value of leg 717 is set to “5”, indicatingan alarm is present at leg 717 (STEP 1011) and the input values of legs717, 719, 721, and 723 are cleared (STEP 1013).

Next, a determination is made as to whether the input register indicateseither that the AIS-1 flag is set, or that leg 711 is in alarm condition(STEP 1015). If so, then a further determination is made as to whetherRAI was present on leg 717 as indicated by the input value of leg 717being equal to “4” (STEP 1017). If the inquiry of STEP 1017 is positive,then the input value of leg 717 is cleared. Likewise, a determination ismade as to whether either RAI or RAI-CI are present on leg 719. If theanswer to STEP 1021 is positive, then the input value of leg 719 iscleared (STEP 1023). The AIS-1 flag is set by the ITAU 705 when an AIScondition is detected on either leg 709 or 711. Therefore, if the AIS-1or an alarm condition is detected on leg 711, any RAI signal on legs 717and 719 would be a result of a condition already detected at leg 711.Accordingly, since neither of these legs is the origin of the Event, theRAI signals can be cleared.

Next, a determination is made as to whether AIS-2 is set or an alarm isdetected on leg 719 (STEP 1025). If so, then a further determination ismade as to whether RAI was present on leg 717 as indicated by the inputvalue of leg 717 being equal to “4” (STEP 1027). That is, is any RAIsignal present on leg 709. If so, then the input value of leg 709 iscleared (STEP 1029). A further inquiry is also made to determine whethereither an RAI or RAI-CI signal was received by the ITAU 705 on leg 711.If so, then the input value of leg 711 is cleared. It can be seen thatSTEPS 1025 through 1033 are analogous to STEPS 1015 through 1023, butdealing with signals flowing in the opposite direction.

Next, a determination is made as to whether RAI-CI is present on leg711, as indicated by the input value of leg 711 (STEP 1035). If theanswer to the inquiry of STEP 1035 is positive, then the source of theEvent is an alarm condition on leg 723. Therefore, the output value ofleg 723 will be set to an Event Level of “5” indicating an alarmcondition on leg 723 (STEP 1037). The input values of legs 709, 711,721, and 723 are then cleared (STEP 1039), because the RAI or RAI-CIindicates on which leg the Event occurred. It should be noted that theRAI or RAI-CI signal prevent PRMs from being reported, so there is novisibility on legs 709 and 711 when RAI or RAI-CI is present.

Similar to STEPS 635-639, a determination is made as to whether RAI-CIis present on leg 719, as indicated by the value of the Mask stored inthe input register (STEP 1041). If the answer to the inquiry of STEP1041 is positive, then the source of the Event is an alarm condition onleg 715. Therefore, that portion of the output register which isassociated with leg 715 will be set to an Event Level of “5” indicatingan alarm condition on leg 715 (STEP 1043). Those portions of the inputregister associated with legs 713, 715, 717, and 719 can be cleared(STEP 1045).

Next, a determination is made as to whether an alarm is present oneither leg 709 or leg 711, as indicated by the input values of legs 709and 711 (STEP 1047). If either of these legs are in alarm, a nextdetermination is made as to whether the flag SI-1 is set in the Maskstored in the input register (STEP 1049). The ITAU 705 has alreadydetermined whether an AIS or AIS-CI signal has been received by the ITAU705. Therefore, if the SI-1 flag is not set (STEP 1049) and both theAIS-1 flag and the RM-1 flag are set (STEP 1051), then the output valueof leg 711 is set to “5” (STEP 1053) indicating that the origin of theEvent is an alarm condition on leg 711.

Otherwise, if the answer to the inquiry of STEP 1051 is negative, then adetermination can not be made as to whether the Event originated at leg709 or 711. Accordingly, the output values of legs 709 and 711 are setto the input values of each leg 709 and 711, respectively (STEPS 655 and657).

If the inquiry of STEP 1049 is answered in the positive (the ITAU 705has not yet been able to determine whether the signal being received isan AIS or an AIS-CI), then once again a determination can not be made asto whether the Event originated at leg 709 or 711. Accordingly, theoutput value of legs 709 and 711 is set to the input value of legs 709and 711 (STEPS 659 and 661). Next, if that the input register value ofleg 711 indicates that leg 711 is in alarm condition (STEP 1063), thenthe input values of legs 713 and 715 are cleared (STEPS 665 and 667),since the cause of the alarms in legs 713 and 715 is the alarm conditionpresent on leg 711. Regardless of whether the answer to the inquiry inSTEP 1063 is positive or negative, the input values of legs 709 and 711are cleared (STEPS 669 and 671), since the origin of these alarms hasalready been determined.

Next, if the answer to the inquiry in STEP 1047 is positive and the SI-2flag is not set, then the ITAU 705 has already determined whether an AISor AIS-CI signal has been received by the ITAU 705. Therefore, if theSI-2 flag is not set (STEP 1075) and both the AIS-2 flag and the RM-2flag are set (STEP 1077), then the output value of leg 719 is set toEvent Level “5” (STEP 1079) indicating that the origin of the Event isan alarm condition on leg 719.

Otherwise, if the answer to the inquiry of STEP 1077 is negative, then adetermination can not be made as to whether the Event originated at leg717 or 719. Accordingly, the output values of legs 717 and 719 are setto the input values of 717 and 719 (STEPS 681 and 683).

If the inquiry of STEP 1075 is answered in the positive (the ITAU hasnot yet been able to determine whether the signal being received is anAIS or an AIS-CI), then once again a determination can not be made as towhether the Event originated at leg 717 or 719. Accordingly, the outputvalues of legs 717 and 719 is set to the input values of legs 717 and719 (STEPS 685 and 687). Next, if input value of leg 719 indicates thatleg 719 is in alarm condition (STEP 1089), then the input value of bothlegs 721 and 723 are cleared (STEPS 691 and 693), since the cause of thealarms in legs 721 and 723 is the alarm condition present on leg 719.Regardless of whether the answer to the inquiry in STEP 1089 is positiveor negative, the input values of legs 717 and 719 are cleared (STEPS 695and 697), since the origin of these alarms has already been determined.

Next, if the input values of legs 709 and 711 indicate that an EventLevel of “4” (RAI) is present on either of these legs (STEP 1099), thenthe SI-1 flag and the RM-1 flag are checked (STEP 1101). If either theSI-1 flag is set or the RM-1 flag is not set, then both the outputvalues of legs 721 and 723 are set to Event Level “5” to indicate thatan alarm condition has originated in either leg 721 or 723 (STEP 1103).It should be noted that while the present invention functions without animproved network interface unit, such as the Remote Module, the abilityto determine the exact origin of an Event is limited in some cases, suchas the case in which an alarm is present on the signal received by theITAU 705 from the CSU 701. The fact that the signals RAI-CI and AIS-CImay take longer to detect then RAI and AIS signals, can slow down theprocess. Therefore, in the preferred embodiment, the process suffers theambiguity that is present when the Remote Module is not present if theRAI-CI or AIS-CI signal are not detected by the time they are needed bythe process (as indicated by the fact that the SI-1 or SI-2 flag isset).

If the Remote Module is present, and the ITAU 705 has determined thatthe received signal is RAI and not RAI-CI, then the output value of leg721 is set to Event Level “5” to indicate an alarm condition originatedat leg 721 (STEP 1105). Regardless of the response to the inquiry ofSTEP 1101, the input values of legs 709, 711, 713, and 715 are cleared(STEP 1107), because the RAI or RAI-CI indicates on which leg the Eventoccured. As noted above, the RAI or RAI-CI signals prevents PRMs frombeing reported, so there is no visibility on legs 709 and 711 when RAIor RAI-CI is present.

Next, if the input values of legs 717 and 719 indicate that an EventLevel of “4” (RAI) is present on either of these legs (STEP 1009), thenthe SI-1 flag and the RM-1 flag are checked (STEP 1111). If either theSI-1 flag is set or the RM-1 flag is not set, then both the outputvalues of legs 713 and 715 are set to Event Level “5” to indicate thatan alarm condition has originated in either leg 713 or 715 (STEP 1113).

If the Remote Module is present, and the ITAU 705 has determined thatthe received signal is RAI and not RAI-CI, then the output value of leg713 is set to Event Level “5” to indicate an alarm condition originatedat leg 713 (STEP 1115). Regardless of the response to the inquiry ofSTEP 1109, the input values of legs 717, 719, 721, and 723 are cleared(STEP 1117), since the RAI or RAI-CI indicates on which leg the Eventoccured. The RAI or RAI-CI signal itself prevents PRMs from beingreported, so there is no visibility on legs 717 and 719 when RAI orRAI-CI is present.

Next the input value of each leg is checked to determine whether anerrored second has occurred in each leg. First the input value of leg709 is checked (STEP 1119). If not equal to zero, then the output valueof leg 709 is set to an Event Level which is indicative of the presenceof an errored second on the leg (STEP 1121). If the input value of leg709 is not set, then the input value of leg 711 is checked (STEP 1123).If not set, then the input value of leg 713 is checked (STEP 1125). Ifnot set, then the input value of leg 715 is checked (STEP 1127). In eachcase, if the input value is set (i.e., not equal to zero, indicative ofthe fact that any Event is present), then the output value correspondingto the input value is set to “1” to indicate the presence of an erroredsecond (STEPS 729, 771, and 733). The same process is followed withregard to legs 717, 719, 721, and 723 in STEPS 735-749.

Next, since legs 709 and 711 would be a single leg in the absence of theRemote Module 703, when the input value of the RM-1 flag is zero, thenany errored seconds which occur in leg 709, also occur in leg 711.Therefore, if the input value of the RM-1 flag is equal to zero (STEP1151), and the output value of leg 709 is equal to “1” (indicating anerrored second) (STEP 1153), then the output value of leg 711 is set to“1” (STEP 1155). Likewise, if the output value of leg 721 is indicativeof an errored second (STEP 1157), then the output value of leg 723 isset to indicate the presence of an errored second (STEP 1159).

In the other direction, if the input value of the RM-2 flag is equal tozero (STEP 1161), and the output value of leg 717 is equal to “1”(indicating an errored second) (STEP 1163), then the output value of leg719 is set to “1” (STEP 1165). Likewise, if the output value of leg 713is indicative of an errored second (STEP 1167), then the output value ofleg 715 is set to indicate the presence of an errored second (STEP1169).

Finally, to conclude the process, the entire input register is set equalto the entire output register (STEP 1171). In accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention, the mask that is output from theSectionalizer is compared with the last recorded output from theSectionalizer, and if different is stored in a storage device, such as amagnetic disk storage device, or optical disk storage device. Since theMask is only stored if it differs, the amount of data that is stored isreduced. The Mask may also be displayed if requested by the user, andmay be communicated over a communications link, such as an asynchronousor X.25 communication channel, using a conventional protocol, such asthe TL1 protocol defined by Bellcore and used in communications betweenthe ITAU 705 and an Operations System (OS). Since data is stored andforwarded only upon detection of a change in the state of the Mask(i.e., only when an Event is initially detected or ceases to bedetected), the amount of information which must be transmitted to the OSis greatly reduced.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the particularorder in which the process is performed is not essential to the presentinvention. However, certain benefits are gained by processing first theEvent Levels that clearly indicate a particular origin for an Event,such as the RAI-CI and AIS-CI Event Levels. Furthermore, in some cases,altering the order may cause ambiguity as to the source of an Event. Forexample, if RAI is processed before RAI-CI, then RAI-CI must be checkedto determine whether the RAI-CI is the cause of the RAI. Nonetheless, asimple check to see if RAI-CI is present would be sufficient in thiscase to dismiss the ambiguity (assuming that an improved networkinterface module, such as a Remote Module, is present). If no RemoteModule is present, then the ambiguity will exist regardless of the orderin which the Events are processed.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, informationused to generate the Mask that is input to the first filter is providedapproximately once every second by the ITAU 705. Preferably, the ITAU705 includes one or more programmable devices which are used to performboth the conventional ITAU 705 tasks and those tasks which are requiredby the present invention. It should be clear to those skilled in the artthat tasks may be assigned to particular programmable devices within theITAU 705 in any manner that results in the assigned tasks being properlycompleted. In the case in which the Sectionalizer of the presentinvention is a program which is executed by at least one of the sameprogrammable devices which execute conventional ITAU functions, theinformation used to generate the raw data Mask is output from the ITAUby writing the information into a shared memory. In one case in whichthe level of integration is great between the ITAU 705 and theSectionalizer 707 functions, the ITAU 705 performs the function ofgenerating the Mask as part of the processing of the informationreceived over the data path 700.

Sectionalizer Output

The output from the Sectionalizer 707 is preferably displayed in one ofthree “Modes” and two “Views”, as described above. The displaypreferably graphically illustrates the data path and indicates thestatus of each leg of the data path by indicating that status directlyon, or in close proximity to, the line on the display that representsthat leg. FIG. 7 is an illustration of an output display image inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention. When inFiltered mode, the display indicates status of each leg of the data pathafter the raw data presented by the ITAU 705 has been filtered by thefirst and second filters described above and illustrated in theflowcharts of FIGS. 4 and 5. By filtering the raw data, the number oftimes the output data will change is reduced, making it easier for theuser to determine the overall status of the data path 700. In Currentmode, the data is displayed prior to filtering. The output format isidentical to the format used to display the data in Filtered Mode.However, in History mode, the display outputs a date/time stampindicating when the Mask was recorded. The user may then scroll backthrough the history of the data path one Event at a time. Since onlychanges in the status of the data path are recorded, each piece of datathat is available in history mode indicates the status of the data pathat a point in time when the status of the data path changed.

In addition to displaying the output, in accordance with the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the data can be output to anexternal device over a communications link, such as Transaction Language1 (TL1). The following protocol is used in one embodiment of the presentinvention. A command is communicated to the Sectionalizer in thefollowing form:

-   RTRV-SECT-T1:[TID]:AID: [CTAG]: :[MODE], [VIEW], [EVENTS], [TMPER],    [DATE], [TIME];

The first portion of the command (“RTRV-SECT-T1”) indicates the type ofcommand. The TID identifies the ITAU system. The AID is the code used toidentify the particular T1 line for which information is sought. TheCTAG correlates a command with a response. The mode parameter allows theuser to request a particular mode from among the three available modes(current, filtered, history). The View parameter allows the user toselect from among the two available views (data, sectionalized). Each ofthe remaining parameters are used if history mode is requested. Ifhistory mode is selected, then the Events parameter allows the user tospecify the number of events to retrieve, starting from the end of thehistory file. The present invention preferably stores up to 500 eventsfor each T1 line. The TMPER parameter allows the user to specify aperiod of time over which the user would like to see information. TheDATE parameter allows the user to specify the date of the first file tobe retrieved. The TIME parameter allows the user to specify the time ofthe first data file to be retrieved.

In accordance with this embodiment, the response is returned in thefollowing form:

-   -   SID DATE TIME        M COMPLD    -   “AAAAA, T1: V=B, MSK=CCCCCCCC, AIS=DD, RM=EE, CP=FF,        DATE=MM-DD-YYYY,        TIME=HH-MM-SS”        ;

The SID is the source identifier. The DATE is the current date on whichthe information is communicated. The TIME is the time of thecommunication. The value “AAAAA” is the AID field. The value “V” is theview in which the data will be communicated. If equal to S, then thedata is returned in Sectionalizer view, if equal to D, then the data isreturned in Data view, if T, then the circuit is under test, and if O,then the circuit is out of service.

The value “CCCCCCCC” represents the 24 bits of that portion of the Maskwhich represents the status of each of the eight legs. The value ispresented as eight octal digits, each representing the Event Level ofone of the legs. The value “DD” represents the status of the AIS-1 andAIS-2 flags, each digit representing the state of one of these twoflags.

The value “EE” represents the status of the RM-1 and RM-2 flags, eachdigit represents the status of one of the two flags. The value “FF”indicates whether the CSU 701 is generating PRMs, each digit representsthe CSU 701 at one end of the data path 700. The value “MM-DD-YYYY”represents the date, and the value “HH-MM-SS” represents the time ofday.

In addition to the command/response form of communication, in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention, autonomous messages may begenerated and transmitted. The format of these autonomous messages is asfollows:

-   -   SID MDATE MTIME        A ATAG REPT EVT T1    -   “AAAAA:NISECT, SE, EDATE, ETIME    -   \“CIRCUIT SECTIONALIZER MESSAGE\”,    -   \“V=B, MSK=CCCCCCCC, AIS=DD, RM=EE, CP=FF, DATE=MM-DD-YYY,        TIME=HH-MM-SS\”        ”        ;

Each of the parameters is the same as above, however, MDATE and MTIMEare a time stamp indicating when the report was issued. EDATE and ETIMEare a time stamp indicating when the report queued to issue. Inaddition, SE is a parameter which indicates the status of the Event.That is, if SE is equal to “SC”, then an Event has occurred. If, on theother hand, SE is equal to “CL”, then the no Events have occurred.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that any means may beused to communicate the information from the Sectionalizer 707 to othercomponents of the communication system.

SUMMARY

A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described.Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Forexample, the Sectionalizer is described herein as being preferablylocated within the ITAU. However, the Sectionalizer may be a stand-alonedevice which receives information from a performance monitoring device,such as an ITAU or another such performance monitoring device.Furthermore, the present invention may be used with or without RemoteModules. However, it will be clear that having Remote Modules presentenhances the ability of the present invention to sectionalize Events.Still further, it should be understood that the present invention may beimplemented as a set of program instructions stored on a manufacturedmedium, such as a “floppy disk” or compact disk optical storage device,these instructions being executed by any programmably controlled device.Alternatively, the present invention may be implemented as a statemachine, hardware device in which each of the functions are performed bydedicated hardware circuits, or as an Application Specific IntegratedCircuit (ASIC). Still further, the present invention is described in thecontext of T1 telephone circuits. However, the present invention may beused in any communication circuit in which signals are monitored anddiagnostics are required in order to determine the status of the circuitin two directions without disrupting traffic on the circuit, such asHDSL or DS3 transmission circuits. In addition, the particular Eventsthat are monitored and reported are dependent upon the particularcircuit that is being monitored. Thus, the present invention may definethe particular Events that are detected and reported in any manner whichis applicable to the circuit that is being monitored. Further yet, itshould be understood that some of the benefits of the present inventionmay be achieved even if the monitoring devices and the Sectionalizer donot communicate over the data path, but rather communicate over adiscrete communication link, such as a wireless link or a separate modemlink unrelated to the data path being monitored.

Accordingly, it is to be understood that the invention is not to belimited by the specific illustrated embodiments, but only by the scopeof the appended claims.

1. A system for determining the status of a telecommunications circuit,including: (a) a monitoring device located at a network interfacebetween the telecommunications circuit and a customer installation,generating data derived from the content of signals received by themonitoring device from the circuit and transmitting the generated data;and (b) a sectionalizer device, coupled by the circuit to the monitoringdevice, receiving said generated data from the monitoring device,detecting when an Event has occurred, and determining, based upon thegenerated data, in which portion of the circuit from among multiplecircuit portions the Event originated; wherein signals transmitted overthe circuit include both a payload and overhead, and the signalsreceived by the sectionalizer device from the monitoring device indicateboth inability to detect a payload and degradation of the signal due toerrors in either the payload or the overhead.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the sectionalizer determines in which of the following portionsof the circuit the Event has originated: a portion of the data pathwhich lies between the customer installation and the monitoring device;a portion of the data path which lies between the monitoring device andthe sectionalizer device; a portion of the data path which lies betweenthe sectionalizer device and the monitoring device; and a portion of thedata path which lies between the monitoring device and the customerinstallation.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sectionalizer isfurther for communicating to an Operations System whenever an Event isinitially detected or ceases to occur.
 4. The system of claim 1, whereindata transmitted by the monitoring device is sent in an overhead channelof the circuit.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sectionalizerdevice includes a filter for time correlating Events detected andreported by more than one device.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein thefilter delays the processing of the data received by the sectionalizerdevice for a predetermined amount of time, the delay beginning at thetime a new event is reported.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein Eventsdetected by either the monitoring device or the sectionalizer device areassigned an event level, and the filter delays are terminated if thereceived data includes an event level which is greater than asubsequently received event level.
 8. A system for dividing a data pathinto a plurality of legs and determining in which of the plurality oflegs an Event has originated, including: (a) a monitoring device capableof monitoring signals on the data path to detect either one or moreEvents or a signal indicative of an occurrence of one or more Events,the placement of the monitoring device defining a first end of a first,second, third and fourth leg, the second end of the first and second legbeing defined by a terminating device; and (b) sectionalizer devicecoupled to the monitoring device over the third and fourth leg of thedata path adapted to receive signals from the monitoring deviceindicating in which leg one of the Events originated based upon thereceived signals, the placement of the sectionalizer device defining thesecond end of the third and fourth leg; wherein signals transmitted overthe circuit include both a payload and overhead, and the signalsreceived by the sectionalizer device from the monitoring device indicateboth inability to detect a payload and degradation of the signal due toerrors in either the payload or the overhead.
 9. The system of claim 8,wherein the monitoring device transmits a variant of a conventionalalarm indication signal in response to detection of conditions whichwould lead to transmission of an alarm indication signal if detected bythe monitoring device on the signal from the data path.
 10. The systemof claim 9, wherein the sectionalizer determines that one of the Eventsoriginated in the first leg if the signal received from the monitoringdevice comprises the variant of the conventional alarm indicationsignal.
 11. The system of claim 9, wherein the sectionalizer determinesthat one of the Events originated in the second leg if the signalreceived from the monitoring device comprises the variant of theconventional remote alarm indication signal.
 12. The system of claim 9,wherein the sectionalizer determines that one of the Events originatedin the third leg if the signal received from the monitoring devicecomprises an alarm indication signal which is not a variant of aconventional alarm indication signal.
 13. The system of claim 9, whereinthe sectionalizer determines that an event originated in the second legif the signal received from the monitoring device comprises a remotealarm indication signal which is not a variant of a conventional alarmindication signal.
 14. A system for generating information regarding theorigin of Events in a data path and determining the origin of the Eventsbased upon the generated information, including: (a) at least onemonitoring device capable of monitoring signals on the data path todetect either the Events or a signal indicative of an occurrence of oneof the Events; and (b) a sectionalizer device coupled to the at leastone monitoring device for receiving data indicating which of the atleast one monitoring devices has detected either one of the Events or asignal indicative of an occurrence of one of the Events, and fordetermining the data path origin of the Event based upon the receivedsignals; wherein the Events include detection of: a loss of signal;alarm condition; out of frame condition; cyclic redundancy check errors;framesynchronizationbit errors; presence of an alarm indication signal;presence of a remote alarm indication; line code violation; controlledslip; and excess zeros; wherein the monitoring device transmits avariant of a conventional alarm indication signal in response todetection of conditions which would otherwise lead to transmission of analarm indication signal from the customer installation; and wherein thevariant of the alarm indication signal is a pattern of unframed ones inwhich a portion of the pattern has been modified to include apredetermined number of zeros.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein atleast one of the at least one monitoring devices is located at a networkinterface.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the monitoring devicealters performance report messages in response to detection of one ofthe Events on the signal received by the monitoring device from thecustomer installation.
 17. The system of claim 15, wherein themonitoring device alters performance report messages in response todetection of one of the Events on the signal received by the monitoringdevice from the network.
 18. The system of claim 15, wherein thesectionalizer device is located within equipment under the control ofthe local exchange carrier.
 19. The system of claim 18, wherein thesectionalizer device includes a communication device for communicatingthe location of the origin of the Event to a user without disruptingtraffic on the data path.
 20. The system of claim 18, wherein thecommunication device is a display device which is capable of displayingthe location of the origin of the Event to a user.
 21. The system ofclaim 19, wherein the communication device is coupled to an operationssystem for reporting to the operations system the location of the originof the Event.
 22. The system of claim 14, wherein the predeterminednumber of zeros is not great enough to prevent the variant from beingincluded within the definition of a conventional alarm indicationsignal.
 23. A system for generating information regarding the origin ofEvents in a data path and determining the origin of the Events basedupon the generated information, including: (a) at least one monitoringdevice capable of monitoring signals on the data path to detect eitherthe Events or a signal indicative of an occurrence of one of the Events;and (b) a sectionalizer device coupled to the at least one monitoringdevice for receiving data indicating which of the at least onemonitoring devices has detected either one of the Events or a signalindicative of an occurrence of one of the Events, and for determiningthe data path origin of the Event based upon the received signals; and atest and monitoring device disposed within a local exchange carrier,wherein the sectionalizer device is disposed within the test andmonitoring device; wherein the test and monitoring device is adapted totransfer signals received from a first of the at least one monitoringdevice to a second of the at least one remote monitoring device, monitorsignals received from the first remote monitoring device, transfersignals received from the second remote monitoring device to the firstremote monitoring device, and monitor the signals received from thesecond remote monitoring device.
 24. The system of claim 23, wherein thetest and monitoring device is an Integrated Transport Access Unit. 25.The system of claim 23, wherein the first monitoring device transmits avariant of a conventional alarm indication signal in response todetection of conditions which would lead to transmission of an alarmindication signal have been detected on the signal from the customerinstallation.
 26. The system of claim 25, wherein the variant of thealarm indication signal is a pattern of unframed ones in which a portionof the pattern has been modified to include a predetermined number ofzeros.
 27. The system of claim 26, wherein the predetermined number ofzeros is not great enough to prevent the variant from being includedwithin the definition of a conventional alarm indication signal.
 28. Thesystem of claim 25, wherein the sectionalizer device determines that oneof the Events originated within the local exchange carrier upondetection by the test and monitoring device that the first monitoringdevice has transmitted a variant of a conventional alarm indicationsignal.
 29. A sectionalizer within a system for determining the statusof a telecommunications circuit, having a monitoring device locatedbetween the telecommunications circuit and a customer installation forgenerating data derived from the content of signals received by themonitoring device over the circuit and transmitting the generated data,the sectionalizer including: (a) receiving means for receiving thegenerated data from the monitoring device: (b) detecting means, coupledto the receiving means for detecting that one or more Events haveoccurred; and (c) determining means, coupled to the detecting means andthe receiving means, for determining, based upon the received data andin response to detection of one of the Events by the detecting means, inwhich portion of the circuit from among multiple circuit portions theEvent originated; wherein signals transmitted over the circuit includeboth a payload and overhead, and the signals received by thesectionalizer device from the monitoring device indicate both inabilityto detect a payload and degradation of the signal due to errors ineither the payload or the overhead.
 30. The sectionalizer of claim 29,wherein the means for determining in which portion of the circuit theEvent originated determines in which of the following portions of thecircuit the Event has originated: (a) a portion of the data path whichlies between customer premises equipment and the monitoring device; (b)a portion of the data path which lies between the monitoring device andthe sectionalizer device; (c) a portion of the data path which liesbetween the sectionalizer device and the monitoring device; and (d) aportion of the data path which lies between the monitoring device andthe customer premises equipment.
 31. The sectionalizer of claim 29,wherein the sectionalizer further includes means for communicating to anOperations System whenever one of the Events is initially detected orceases to occur.
 32. The sectionalizer of claim 29, wherein datatransmitted by the monitoring device is sent in an overhead channel ofthe circuit.
 33. The sectionalizer of claim 29, further including afilter that time correlates detected Events.
 34. The sectionalizer ofclaim 33, wherein the filter delays the processing of the data receivedby the sectionalizer device for a predetermined amount of time, thedelay beginning at the time a new event is reported.
 35. Thesectionalizer of claim 34, wherein the Events detected by either themonitoring device or the sectionalizer are assigned an event level, andthe filter delays are terminated if the received data includes an eventlevel which is greater than a subsequently received event level.
 36. Asectionalizer within a system for generating information regarding theorigin of one or more Events in a data path and determining the originof the respective Event based upon the generated information, having atleast a first and second remote monitoring device each capable ofmonitoring signals on the data path to detect either the Event or asignal indicative of an occurrence of the Event, the sectionalizerincluding: (a) a sectionalizer device adapted to be coupled to the atleast one monitoring device, and including: (1) a receiver whichreceives signals indicating which of the first and second remotemonitoring devices has detected either the Event or a signal indicativeof an occurrence of the Event; and (2) a processing device fordetermining the origin of the Event based upon the received signals;further including a test and monitoring device disposed within a localexchange carrier, wherein the sectionalizer device is disposed withinthe test and monitoring device; wherein the test and monitoring devicetransfers signals received from the first remote monitoring device tothe second remote monitoring device, monitoring signals received fromthe first remote monitoring device, transferring signals received fromthe second remote monitoring device to the first remote monitoringdevice, and monitoring the signals received from the second remotemonitoring device.
 37. The sectionalizer of claim 36, wherein the firstmonitoring device transmits a variant of a conventional alarm indicationsignal in response to detection of conditions which would lead totransmission of an alarm indication signal if detected by the monitoringdevice on the signal from the customer installation.
 38. Thesectionalizer of claim 37, wherein the variant of the alarm indicationsignal is a pattern of unframed ones in which a portion of the patternhas been modified to include a predetermined number of zeros.
 39. Thesectionalizer of claim 38, wherein the predetermined number of zeros isnot great enough to prevent the variant from being included within thedefinition of a conventional alarm indication signal.
 40. Thesectionalizer of claim 37, wherein the sectionalizer determines that theEvent originated within the local exchange carrier upon detection by thetest and monitoring device that the first monitoring device hastransmitted a variant of a conventional alarm indication signal.